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Ellesmere Port shale gas opposition grows as decision day looms

news release

Residents will take to the streets on Thursday (25 January) to demonstrate opposition to fracking in Cheshire, ahead of a crucial planning meeting at Cheshire West and Chester Council.

IGas are seeking permission from the council to ‘flow test’ a well at Ellesmere Port to test for shale gas, which could lead to fracking (1).

Friends of the Earth objected to the proposal and is calling upon the Planning Committee to reject the application. The environmental group highlights several concerns with the plans including:

  • Lack of information on environmental impacts and that no ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ has been carried out – despite the site being only 270m from the Mersey Estuary, a site of international importance for wildlife.
  • Air pollution impacts – from flaring of gas and hundreds of heavy lorry journeys (approximately 482 HGV movements) – on communities already suffering from poor air. Ellesmere Port is an Air Quality Management Area.
  • Little consideration of climate change impacts – with no assessment for greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, generators, emissions from leakage, flaring, venting and other operations.
  • Lack of information on ‘acidisation’ techniques proposed at the site – the application does not disclose the quantities or content of chemicals intended for use at the site, which is just 600m from nearest residents.

Polly Steiner, North West Campaigner from Friends of the Earth, said:

“It is shocking that planning officers have recommended this site for approval, despite no information on the climate change impacts of the site and questions over risks to local communities and wildlife.

“Residents in Ellesmere Port already suffer from poor air and the last thing they need is another polluting industry on the doorstep.

“Councillors would do well to listen to the hundreds of local people who have opposed shale gas testing and reject these plans.

“Instead of dirty fracking, the Government should be backing clean renewable energy which could create thousands of new jobs in Cheshire.”

Thursday’s peaceful protest has been coordinated by Frack Free Dee (2). Local demonstrators will meet at Chester town hall at 3pm, and will march through the city to the Council building.

More than 2000 people have objected and signed petitions against the IGas application.

If the results of flow testing are positive for IGas, it could lead to fracking in Ellesmere Port and the surrounding area. The company is also seeking permission to frack for shale gas at the Protos site on Ince Marshes, near Elton. (3)

Colin Watson, Chester resident and chartered engineer, will speak against the application in front of the committee this Thursday. With over 35 years of experience in chemicals engineering Mr. Watson says:

“IGas claim that this is an acid squeeze, which avoids fracking regulations. No matter how you view this, it still involves 1,200 tonnes of shale gas to be flared”.

Further information on how to support the effort to object to fracking in Cheshire can be found on Frack Free Upton and Cheshire facebook sites. (4)

-ends-

Notes to editors:

Contact: Pollyanna Steiner pollyanna.steiner@foe.co.uk (mobile: 07581 461 511) or Helen Rimmer 07940 006783. Photographs and further quotes will be available on Thursday 25 January following the conclusion of the planning committee.

A copy of Friends of the Earth’s objection is available on request.

[1] IGas Portside application: application ref: 17/03213/MIN

[2] Frack Free Dee

[3] Ince Marshes Scoping Report.

[4] Frack Free Upton Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FrackFreeUpton/  Frack Free Cheshire Website

 

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