Ban on ALL fracking activity on council controlled land to remain despite government U-turn
14.10.2022 - 11:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Tory councillors have supported a ban on fracking on council land despite the Government’s recent change in policy allowing shale gas extraction.
Bolton Council unanimously backed a motion proposed by Liberal Democrat leader Roger Hayes to continue its ban on any activities linked with fracking on land it owns or controls and also to strongly oppose any attempt by Government to weaken or override its powers as a planning authority when considering any applications for fracking in Bolton.
All Conservative councillors backed the measure, meaning their stance is the opposite of a recently announced policy change by the Conservative government. Last month the government lifted the ban on fracking for shale gas in England, alongside unveiling its plans to limit rising energy costs.
The controversial practice was halted in 2019, amid opposition from environmentalists and local concerns over earth tremors. Liz Truss backed fracking as a way to help boost the UK’s domestic gas supplies.
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According to the Prime Minister, the shake-up will pave the way for developers to begin extracting shale gas in as little as six months in areas ‘where there is local support’. Coun Hayes forced a vote at Bolton Council to reinforce the ban the council first imposed in 2015.
After the latest vote Coun Hayes said “I was particularly pleased that the vote this time was unanimous, even all the Conservative councillors supported it, going against the wishes of their Government.” The borough’s MPs will also be asked to support the decisions by the council.
The motion also stated: “There are considerable public concerns about the possible effects of earth tremors,