Residents call for a ban on fracking in Bridgend
Published: 5 May 2015
Nearly 2,500 people from the Bridgend area and beyond have signed a petition calling for Councillors to declare Bridgend County Borough Council a frack free area.
A group of concerned local residents were joined by Friends of the Earth Cymru to hand in the petition to Bridgend Council. They are now calling for the Council to take a vote to declare a ban on fracking in the Bridgend area.
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth to enable a high-pressure water and chemical mixture to be injected into the rock. This enables the rock to be ‘fractured’, which then releases the gas inside.
Fracking is not the answer to the UK’s energy challenges. It has been linked to water contamination, air pollution, earth tremors, health problems, decreasing house prices, climate change as well as hugely increasing lorry usage and movements around fracking sites – and crucially, it isn’t likely to bring down energy prices, nor create sustainable jobs.
Petition founder Hannah Sinnott said:
“This form of unconventional gas extraction is short lived, whilst the environmental impact could last for generations.
“By declaring Bridgend County free from fracking we will be leading the way to a cleaner and more sustainable future. We can set a precedent for other local authorities by showing that we are making responsible and positive changes in our community.
“We hope that the Council will listen to residents in their area and follow the Welsh Government’s lead in declaring a moratorium on fracking.”
Friends of the Earth Cymru Director Gareth Clubb said:
"Fracking and shale gas is not the solution to Wales’ energy challenges.
"We need a 21st century energy revolution based on efficiency and renewables, not more fossil fuels that will add to climate change."
“ As someone born and bred in Bridgend I would be delighted to see my home area becoming a leader in Wales by saying no to fracking and investing instead in a green future.”
ENDS
Notes:
· In February 2015 the Welsh Government declared a moratorium on all fracking in Wales
· Friends of the Earth Cymru has long campaigned to stop fracking and other unconventional gas extraction technologies in Wales
· For further information on fracking see Friends of the Earth’s briefing paper ‘Shale gas: not all it’s fracked up to be’ http://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/shale-gas-not-all-its-fracked-be-18119.pdf
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