EMERGENCY MOTION BACKS BRIGEND GREENS’ CALL FOR FRACKING MORATORIUM

In an emergency motion (1) passed by the party’s spring conference (on 28 Feb), the Greens are calling for more analysis of the effects of fracking before it is even considered for development in the UK (2).
Caroline Lucas MP, leader of the Green Party, said after the motion passed that she was very worried about the potentially disastrous consequences of fracking to peoples health and the environment. She went on to say that it would be entirely foolish to allow a potentially dangerous form of extraction to be developed in the UK without further studies being carried out. The motion at conference is the culmination of vociferous campaigning by Blackpool and Fylde Green Party, in England, and Bridgend and Swansea Green Parties in Wales, who have been fighting plans to bring fracking to Britain. (3)

James Abbott, Green Party spokesperson for Science and Technology, pointed out that fracking has consequences beyond its impact on local communities: As well as the local impacts, including potential groundwater contamination, shale gas exploration is part of the ever more desperate hunt for fossil fuels as conventional supplies are set to fail to meet demand.

Andy Chyba, Chair of Bridgend Greens and former geology teacher says: “There is ample evidence that the way fracking is done today is technically unsound and potentially catastrophic in terms of environmental damage and human health. There is also evidence that local planning authorities are way out of their depth in dealing with these proposals. For example, the level of consultation and the questions asked by Bridgend County Borough Council, about the proposals near Llangeinor and Ogmore Vale, appear wholly inadequate. For this reason, I have requested that these applications be called in by the Welsh Assembly Government for proper scrutiny.”

“This issue also underlines why the people of South Wales need Green Party representation in the Welsh Assembly. People should make their second regional list vote count for something in May and vote Green Party. Greens have made a worthwhile impact wherever they have been elected (4). It is time for Wales to gain the benefits of Green Party perspectives on social and environmental issues.”

Notes

(1) Text of the emergency motion:

‘The oil and gas industry is seeking to exploit UKonshore gas reserves trapped in shale rock and coal beds requiring environmentally damaging and risky techniques, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking). This conference condemns the coalition government for refusing to impose a ban, demanded by environmental groups, on shale gas, and on the related coal bed methane extraction industry, at least until the results of studies here and in the US have been considered.

This conference expresses concern at the historic first UK use of this technology at a site of an important ground water aquifer and notes that over 80 further applications have been applied for around the UK.’

Conference instructs GPEX to publicise the issues to enable the Green Party at every level to take a firm line to protect communities, drinking water and the environment.

(2) The recently released film Gasland highlights the many negative effects of fracking in the USA.

(3) For more information please see the Bridgend Green Party website: https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/?s=fracking

(4) Achievements by Green representatives in office around the country: http://join.greenparty.org.uk/membership/whyweneedyou.html

For interviews and further information please contact:

Andy Chyba, Green Party Assembly Candidate for South Wales West: 078 1066 3241 greens@chyba.go-plus.net

Keith M Ross, Green Party Assembly Candidate for South Wales West: 01792 418926 or 079 1467 7150; keithmalcolm@ntlworld.com

Huw Evans, Green Party Assembly Candidate for South Wales West; 07876554550; huwman82@hotmail.com

Swansea Green Party Press Office: 0845 345 5768 or 079 1467 7150; swanseagreenpress@ntlworld.com

Green Party National Press Office: 020 7561 0282
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/