Dear (MPs name),
I am very concerned that the Conservative manifesto proposes (page 23) to make any ‘non-fracking’ drilling for oil and gas ‘a permitted development’ – one of those minor works you don’t need to bother planners with.
As you know, all the new oil and gas prospecting in the Weald is officially designated as ‘non-fracking’. Nevertheless, the acidisation of ‘tight’ limestone (replacing, for the moment, hydraulic fracturing) will require large numbers of industrial sites across the region, and will bring similar traffic, machinery, flares and chemicals, fugitive gases, potential spills and accidents, stress and disruption, and substantial quantities of liquid and solid waste.
These are not minor issues. All applications to drill hydrocarbon wells must be scrutinised by local people and their representatives.
You should be aware that any oil well authorised without going through a local planning process will arouse the same reaction as in Balcombe when Cuadrilla’s original permission to drill was slipped through without local knowledge.
In the interests of our country, I urge you to lobby for this proposal to be dropped in the ‘pruned’ Conservative manifesto, and for it not to be included in the Queen’s Speech.
If this clause remains in the manifesto and is put to the vote in the House of Commons, please would you let me know whether or not you will vote in support of it?
Kind regards,
I am very concerned that the Conservative manifesto proposes (page 23) to make any ‘non-fracking’ drilling for oil and gas ‘a permitted development’ – one of those minor works you don’t need to bother planners with.
As you know, all the new oil and gas prospecting in the Weald is officially designated as ‘non-fracking’. Nevertheless, the acidisation of ‘tight’ limestone (replacing, for the moment, hydraulic fracturing) will require large numbers of industrial sites across the region, and will bring similar traffic, machinery, flares and chemicals, fugitive gases, potential spills and accidents, stress and disruption, and substantial quantities of liquid and solid waste.
These are not minor issues. All applications to drill hydrocarbon wells must be scrutinised by local people and their representatives.
You should be aware that any oil well authorised without going through a local planning process will arouse the same reaction as in Balcombe when Cuadrilla’s original permission to drill was slipped through without local knowledge.
In the interests of our country, I urge you to lobby for this proposal to be dropped in the ‘pruned’ Conservative manifesto, and for it not to be included in the Queen’s Speech.
If this clause remains in the manifesto and is put to the vote in the House of Commons, please would you let me know whether or not you will vote in support of it?
Kind regards,