Stephen Hall shared GreaterManchester Tuc's photo.
Lancashire Councillors have turned down one application to frack at a site at Roseacre Wood near Blackpool. Tomorrow morning they will decide on a second site at Preston New Road, a decision they deferred making on Wednesday last week.
We call on all trades unionists living in Lancashire, and the wider North West who are able to make it, to support the mass lobby planned by local residents and anti-fracking campaigners outside County Hall in Preston starting at 9.00am calling for Cuadrilla's application to be turned down.
Opposition to fracking is not only National Trades Council Conference policy, supported by GMATUC, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire Association of Trades Councils, but the decision by Lancashire Councillors to reject the application would also in our view, be the most 'reasonable' course of action, for them to take. It would also halt in its tracks, for now at least, the Government's roll out of fracking in Lancashire, the desolate North and wider UK.
The reported legal advice Councillors have received, is that should they reject the application, and fracking company Cuadrilla appeal the decision, then they would be overturned, and the Council fined, on the basis that their decision could not be shown to be a reasonable one.
But this is utter nonsense, and makes a mockery of the planning process, the public electing representatives to make such decisions, and the evidence, and overall arguments upon which all such decisions are surely reasonably made.
It also smacks of legal and political bullying based on an alleged threat of some kind of sanction, such as a Council fine, later down the line, if Councillors down give Cuadrilla the go ahead.
Lancashire Councillors will hopefully, having heard the extensive evidence, and arguments put to them by all sides, have the good sense and wisdom to make the right decision, and be prepared stand up to any such alleged threats, after all, should they decide to reject the Cuadrilla's application, they can look forward to overwhelming support of the public.
See you there.
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