Newport council urged to ban fracking

Newport Friends of the Earth have today handed in a petition signed by over a thousand people urging Newport Council to say no to fracking in our area.

This follows a recent campaign by the group to stop fracking in Newport.

Councils in Swansea, Monmouthshire and Ceredigion have already taken the decision to keep their areas frack free.

Newport Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Dave Yates said:

 “We are now calling on Newport Council to listen to the wishes of so many local residents and vote to make Newport a frack free area.

“Fracking isn’t needed here or anywhere and has been linked to many problems such as increased climate change emissions, air and water pollution, increased lorry movements and decreasing house prices.

Friends of the Earth Cymru anti fracking campaigner Bleddyn Lake said:

 “In January, Swansea Council voted against fracking in their area and are also now aiming to be a fossil free area by 2025. We would like to see Newport being at least as forward thinking as Swansea. Why should fracking be ok in Newport but not in Swansea? We hope the Council now listen to concerned residents in Newport and vote to become a frack free area.”

 “Instead of old fashioned fossil fuel technologies we would like to see more investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy which are better for people, for jobs and for the environment.

ENDS