Formby MP calls for fracking planning application to be blocked after earthquakes in Blackpool

Sefton Central Labour MP, Bill Esterson is calling on the government to block the planning application for fracking near Formby, following a spate of earthquakes at nearby Preston New Road, where fracking is underway.

The MP is asking the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to intervene after fracking was halted following the latest earthquake, which recorded 2.9 on the Richter Scale.

Mr Esterson said, “I am calling on the government to stop the planning application from being considered while a review of the dangers of fracking is carried out. Residents in Lancashire have experienced a series of earth tremors, each stronger than the last. Fracking should be banned but if the Conservatives won’t ban fracking, at least they could look at the evidence about why these earthquakes are happening. While an investigation is going ahead, it is inconceivable that the planning application at Great Altcar should be allowed to go ahead. So I am calling on the Conservatives to stop the planning process while evidence is examined about the cause of the earthquakes.

“Fracking produces methane gas for burning and we should be investing in wind, solar and tidal energy, not more fossil fuels because we have to stop global warming. The Conservatives are hell bent on going ahead with fracking and even threatened to frack what they called the “desolate North”. But now the evidence of earthquakes is overwhelming, if the Conservatives don’t care about the environment or about stopping global warming, at least they might intervene to find out why these earthquakes are such a problem.

“Residents in Formby are already concerned about the threat from earth tremors as a result of their experiences from test drilling at Great Altcar. Formby should not have to go through what is happening in Blackpool and Fylde. It was a mistake for Formby Residents Action Group (FRAG) who run the Parish Council, to say in their Neighbourhood Plan that fracking could go ahead at Formby if it was in the community interest. Earthquakes clearly are not in the community interest and FRAG should just have said they were against fracking, not left doubts about whether they might support it.

“But stopping the threat from fracking near Formby is very important and that is why I am writing to the Secretary of State to try to stop fracking in its tracks.

“Labour’s policy is to ban fracking when we are in government. Labour run Sefton Council is against fracking. Formby Labour Party says no to fracking. I voted against the fracking regulations in Parliament and I am hoping to persuade the Conservatives to put a stop to this dangerous practice and to start investing in renewable energy, in low carbon transport and housing and to stop fracking near Formby before it even starts. Formby residents say no to fracking. I agree with the residents and am doing all I can to make sure fracking is banned once and for all.”