Metro Mayor says "no justification" for fracking plans in City Region

LIVERPOOL City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, has said there is no need or justification for shale gas extraction in the City Region given the abundance of alternative sustainable energy sources.

The Metro Mayor's comments follow the submission of a scoping option request earlier this month by Aurora Energy to Sefton Council with respect to potential fracking at Great Altcar. Various areas in the Liverpool City Region, primarily in Sefton and Wirral, have been identified as potential fracking locations, but Steve Rotheram has made clear his belief that this would conflict with his vision for a Carbon Zero City Region by 2040.

Steve Rotheram said:- "I have talked about our City Region becoming the UK's energy coast, but that does not and should not include shale gas extraction. We are home to Europe's biggest off shore wind farm, and with plans to harness the power of the River Mersey, we could be generating the equivalent of four nuclear power stations, or 20% of the UK's domestic residential power needs. Our focus is entirely on renewable and carbon-free energy production, including hydrogen capture, as the foundation for a successful and sustainable future economy."

The Metro Mayor believes that the case against fracking is not simply based on concerns about safety and its potential environmental impact, but that it is also simply unnecessary for a Region and a nation with vast and under exploited potential for renewable energy.

Steve Rotheram added:- "The UK Government needs to do a great deal more to live up to its responsibilities to avert the devastating impacts of climate change, which ironically pose a direct threat to our low lying coastal areas where fracking companies want to operate. I want this City Region to be a beacon and an international exemplar for green renewable energy."

FRAGOFF a Formby Residents Action Group, which was formed in 2012 to fight development on the green belt, have also voiced their concerns. Formby Residents Action Group's Ravenmeols Ward Councillor, Maria Bennett, has said that:- "It's important that our Council is taking all the active steps it can to prevent Fracking getting a foothold in our borough, as well as being outspoken in its opposition to the onshore shale gas industry." This has also been echoed by the Sefton Independent group. They have also presented their 3600 strong petition to Sefton Council asking for a full ban on hydraulic fracturing in the borough.

Also the group, who are known in this area for their activities in connection to the Cuadrilla protests on Preston New Road, Lancashire are holding a public meeting in Formby. The 'Extreme Energy Action Network,' Frack Off, who say that they are:- "taking action against shale gas / oil, coal bed methane (CBM) and underground coal gasification (UCG)" will be at the Gild Hall, on Church Road, Formby, Merseyside, (L373NG) on Tuesday, 6 February 2018, from 7pm. The group say that the meeting will be an update about the outcome of a petition to Sefton Council and to give more information about the plans by Aurora Energy to put a fracking well in, at Great Altcar, Lancashire.