NEWS that fracking has been banned in England due to fresh fears over earthquakes has been welcomed by Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South Andy Carter.
He has welcomed the Government’s decision that Fracking will not be allowed to proceed in England, following the publication of new scientific analysis.
Ministers took the decision on the basis of a report by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), which found that it is not currently possible to accurately predict the probability or magnitude of earthquakes linked to fracking operations.
Andy says Ministers have listened to the concerns raised.
“In August I made it clear I was not convinced that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with further development, the OGA have reached the same conclusion and I’m pleased we’ve now placed a moratorium on all development”.
“I’ve often heard that Fracking works in Canada or the US but the land mass there is far greater and fracking sites are not close to large population centres. If the risk of unacceptable impacts on local communities is high, we cannot proceed so this is the right decision. I’ve heard from lots of concerned residents about Fracking so I know this news will be welcomed by communities in Penketh and other areas of Warrington, who could have been impacted by development of this technology”.
Other sources of natural gas will continue to contribute to the UK’s diverse energy mix. The Committee on Climate Change has previously said that there will still be a requirement for natural gas in a 2050 net zero economy.
Maintaining diverse supply of energy generation, for use during the transition as the UK renewable sector grows is also important for the Warrington economy.
There had been a series of tremors at England’s only active fracking site in Lancashire last August, including one of 2:1 magnitude.
It signals a major u-turn by Prime Minister Boris Johnson who once described fracking as “glorious news for humanity” and that energy companies should “leave no stone unturned or unfracked!”
3 Comments
It’s not a ban it’s a temporary postponement that I’m sure will last roughly until 13 December depending on which party gets in
My understanding it is a “halt” which can also be described as a ban, until science proves conclusively it is safe to continue – a bit like when a banned driver comes to the end of their ban they can drive again.
We should all rejoice it has had to stop not argue over terminology.
Continuing the banned driver analogy; where drivers have been banned for some serious shortcomings in their driving ability, they have to prove themselves by retaking an extended driving test. If fracking is reintroduced, we have to hope it too is made to demonstrate its suitability and safety with an extended test.