Fracking: how to keep winning

In the first few weeks of 2018, Rotherham, Derbyshire and Cheshire West & Chester councils have all voted against applications from fracking companies. In a fourth location, Ryedale in North Yorkshire, a fracking company has begun to remove equipment after long delays and persistent protests.

It’s great to see these wins against the fracking industry – the pressure is working. But there’s no way we’re going to be complacent. The frackers haven’t given up, so we can’t either.

Every single voice is vital in this fight. Has the government heard from you yet?

Why we should all reject fracking

There are good reasons why we keep banging on about fracking. ‘High-volume hydraulic fracturing’, to give its full name, is basically about fossil fuel companies trying to extract hard-to-reach gas/oil out of underground rocks. This comes at a high environmental cost.

We don’t object just because of the risks to the local environment. It’s also that the world’s climate just can’t cope with the extra greenhouse gases from extracting and burning additional fossil fuels.

How we fight fracking – with your help

Individual actions really can help stop fracking in its tracks. And here’s positive proof.

Across the country people like you have taken a stand, spoken up, and persuaded local councils to vote against applications submitted by fracking companies – 3 of them in the first few weeks of 2018.

• Rotherham council planners voted against an application by chemicals giant INEOS to do exploratory drilling near the village of Harthill, South Yorkshire.
• Cheshire West and Chester council (voting by 10-to-1) refused to let IGas Energy test a gas well at Ellesmere Port on the Wirral, south of Liverpool.
• Derbyshire council voted against another drilling request by INEOS, this one for a site at Bramleymoor Lane near Eckington in north-east Derbyshire.

And fracking company Third Energy has started to withdraw equipment from its site in Ryedale, North Yorkshire.

This is what your support and pressure can achieve. Every email, letter and signature on a petition makes a difference. We’ve shown we can protect our communities – and our climate – when we stand together.

Meet the frackers

Fracking first hit the headlines in the UK around 2010/11. Since then Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have put a stop to fracking due to the risks.

Large swathes of England are licensed for possible fracking, but the UK remains frack free at present, and has been for more than 6 years.

The anti-fracking campaign has gone from strength to strength. From the banner-wielding Nanas in Lancashire to Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo backing the campaign and making a direct appeal to the UK prime minister to reject fracking.

Instead of searching for yet more fossil fuels, the UK ought to be putting more resources into developing renewable energies like wind, wave and solar.

Keeping up pressure on the frackers

It’s great to see the impact all our protests and petitions are having, and we’re really pleased so many local councils have voted against applications from fracking companies.

It’s not over yet of course. We need to be strong and maintain our opposition to this industry.

It’s more vital than ever that we all keep letting local councils and the government know the strength and breadth of feeling against fracking.

You really do have the power to change things – not just for yourself and your community but for future generations.

If you haven’t done it yet, please sign the petition to Energy Secretary Greg Clark, and let him know you want Ryedale, Lancashire and the rest of the country – thanks.