Rebel councillor calls for fracking ban

REBEL  councillor Kevin Bennett has welcomed the call by Warrington North MP Helen Jones for the borough to become an “anti-fracking” town.
He claims he was “blocked” when he tried to get a motion opposing fracking onto the agenda at a council meeting but now plans to try again.
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) councillor has sent a motion to every council member asking for one of them to second it.
Otherwise it cannot be debated.
The motion reads: “Lancashire County Council has refused to grant planning permission for fracking at two sites in Lancashire, on various grounds, some of which would apply to any conceivable application for fracking in this borough.
“Therefore council agrees to publish a statement on the council website declaring Warrington a “Frack Free Zone” where fracking is not welcome”.
Cllr Bennett said: “Lancashire County Council’s rejection of fracking at two sites near Blackpool has got the fracking lobby on the run.
“This is a great victory for the anti-fracking movement everywhere. The voice of British big business, the Financial Times, called it “a huge setback” for fracking. The momentum is now with the anti-fracking campaigns.
“Now is the time to go on the offensive, building a huge campaign of pressure for councils to declare their areas “frack free zones” and for council planning committees to use their powers to reject fracking applications.
“The government is wobbling already over whether it would over-rule Lancashire. If enough councils veto fracking, it will become a political nightmare for the Tories.
“Labour MPs are coming out against fracking in significant numbers, reflecting the pressure from their constituents”.