Star date: 24th January 2015  

SALFORD MPS URGED TO VOTE FOR FRACKING PAUSE NEXT WEEK

Salford MPs – Hazel Blears, Barbara Keeley and Graham Stringer – are being urged to support a cross party vote for a moratorium on fracking across Britain on Monday when the Infrastructure Bill comes before Parliament.

The motion, backed by Bolton Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas amongst others, would put a pause on fracking for up to two and a half years while the risks are assessed. Meanwhile a potential dynamite court case surrounding the IGas site in Salford has been adjourned until March.

Full details here...

How will Salford MPs vote on Monday when the Infrastructure Bill – the one that will allow fracking under people's homes amongst lots of other things – comes before Parliament? 

Salford MPs Hazel Blears (Salford and Eccles), Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) and Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) are amongst Greater Manchester MPs being urged to support a cross party motion calling for a moratorium on fracking across Britain for up to two and a half years while the risks are assessed.

The motion is backed by MPs including Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) and John Mann (Labour), Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru), Julian Huppert (Lib Dem) and Caroline Lucas (Green) who are calling for Britain to follow the example of New York State, where a moratorium was introduced while the state Government undertook a study into the health impacts of fracking. Following the two year review that found `serious health risks', a ban was introduced in December 2014.

"With evidence of health impacts increasing we urgently need a fracking moratorium in order to assess the risks to public health and the environment" says Bolton MP Yasmin Qureshi "Fracking should not continue when regulation is not fit for purpose, and before we know if a global climate deal will be reached in Paris later this year.

"The public have serious concerns about fracking that need to be listened to" she adds "In Lancashire where the council is set to decide on whether to allow fracking imminently, two thirds of the public are opposed. The Government should follow the example of New York and bring in a moratorium so that the risks of fracking can be properly assessed."

Manchester Friends of the Earth (MFOE) is amongst environmental groups including Greenpeace and WWF also backing the motion...

"It's high time politicians called a halt to the Coalition Government's reckless and irresponsible pursuit of fracking" says campaigner Ali Abbas of MFOE "Many other places around the world, from Paris to New York, have banned this controversial industry in light of overwhelming public opposition and mounting evidence of the risks to people's health and the climate. We call on MPs across Greater Manchester to support this motion and put fracking on hold until the risks can be properly assessed."

The Labour Party has also tabled a proposal to introduce a new set of dedicated fracking regulations into the Infrastructure Bill on Monday but doesn't state whether a moratorium should be in place while these new regulations are written. Which doesn't impress Green MP Caroline Lucas...

"The impact of fracking is potentially vast" she says "That's why it's so important that the possible environmental, climate, health and economic impacts are fully assessed and acted upon. Heavily redacted impact reports are doing little to alleviate concerns.

"It's crucial the public is in possession of all the facts: absolute transparency should be a given" she explains "As it stands, the Government is throwing caution to the wind on fracking and its vested interests are being prioritised above the public interest. Caution must be exercised, impartial evidence fully considered – and the public properly consulted. This amendment seeks just that: a simple, sensible risk assessment."

Meanwhile, a court case which will test the impact of drilling for shale gas based on evidence from the Salford Barton Moss site was adjourned until March last Monday with press restrictions in place, so the Salford Star can't report on it. But the result could have huge implications for the future of the industry.

And over at Lancashire County Council, planning officers have recommended a vote against Cuadrilla's planned fracking activities on the Fylde*, while, nationally, shares in IGas continue to slide, closing at just 27 points on Friday, from a high of 140 back in June (see here).

Over three thousand people signed a petition to stop fracking in Salford, and a quarter of a million people signed a petition against fracking that was handed in to Downing Street recently.

So how will the three Salford MPs vote on Monday? Watch this space....

• On Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th January, Lancashire County Council will be deciding on whether or not to approve two of the biggest fracking tests ever contemplated in the UK – there’s demonstrations on both days outside County Hall Preston – for further details see The Frack Stops Here Facebook group