FRACKING, LAURA SANDYS & HER GRAND GREEN ISLE

Green Party Thanet Councillor Ian Driver  has challenged Laura Sandys  MP for Thanet South to state her position on whether she supports fracking generally and whether she supports it in her Thanet South constituency after her Energy Minister colleague, Michael Fallon MP for Sevenoaks, announced that there should be more fracking in  Kent.

Councillor Driver said: "I have written to Laura Sandys  following her colleagues comments at the weekend when he stated that there would be fracking in Kent and in the Weald.  I am interesting to hear what she will have to say, especially because Coastal Oil and Gas  Limited have a  Department of Energy and Climate Change licence to explore for shale gas in her constituency  and because Kent County Council has already given planning permission for Coastal Oil and Gas Limited  to

drill test shale gas bore holes at Woodnesborough  near Sandwich in her constituency.

 

The level of opposition to fracking is immense[1] and likely to increase so its important  for Laura Sandys, who  is campaigning to transform Thanet into "The Grand Green Isle" [2] , to let her constituents know how she  will respond to the threat of fracking in her own back yard.

   "The Greens are at the forefront of the opposition of shale gas fracking and have been supporting protestors at Balcombe in Sussex.  We will actively support all community campaigns and protests in Kent against this dangerous and polluting form of gas extraction"

ends.

Notes:
1. YouGov survey published 02/08/13 found that 43% of people would oppose fracking locally compared to 26% who would support it: http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/hoirf26dxl/YG-Archive-Pol-Sunday-Times-results-020813.pdf

 

2. Laura Sandys MP  Vision for Thanet  "Grand Green Isle" http://www.telllaura.org.uk/home.php?page_id=41&p_action=view_campaign&campaign_id=10 

 

strangely no mention in Laura Sandys  green vision of fracking
    

 

Letter text:
Dear Ms Sandys,

Your colleague, Michael Fallon MP and Energy Minister, has indicated that there will be further exploration of shale in the search for gas and that this will occur across the Weald including in Kent and by inference, your constituency.

I am aware that Coastal Oil and Gas Limited have a  Department of Energy and Climate Change licence to explore for shale gas in your constituency  and that  Kent County Council has already given planning permission for Coastal Oil and Gas Limited  to drill test shale gas bore holes at Woodnesborough  near Sandwich in your  constituency.

 

As opponents of shale gas extraction we are deeply concerned about this prospect and therefore we seek your assurance that you will be discussing this matter with Mr Fallon and that you will oppose any exploration of shale or drilling for shale gas in your constituency. I note your  published vision to transform Thanet into a "Grand Green Isle". This is a vision I share too, I sincerely hope that your publically stated  commitment to greening Thanet will extend to opposing fracking.

Please can you confirm your position on the exploration and drilling for shale gas generally and also in your constituency.

Yours sincerely