‘We will halt frack threat’

Members of Frack Free Freck went to Downing Street to hand over a petition and letter to the Prime Minister

Representatives of Frack Free Freck, a Freckleton-based group opposed to drilling for shale gas, travelled to Number 10 to give Mr Cameron a belated Valentine’s Day message.

After bad weather halted their trip on February 14, they made it to London on Friday with their message for the Prime Minister.

The card – with a poem calling on ministers to “snuff the shale out” – also contained a letter highlighting the group’s concerns over fracking.

Gayzer Frackman, who represents another local group, Frack Free Fylde, also made the trip to the capital.

He said: “Our message was ‘why have you fallen out of love with us?’ – and that is definitely getting through. By June I think we will be seeing the Prime Minister face to face.

“We are going to beat this. There will be no fracking in this country.”

The Government is keen to encourage drilling for shale gas stored underground, using the controversial procedure known as fracking where water an chemicals are fired at high pressure to break up shale rock and release gas.

But Mr Cameron angered many people on the Fylde coast after saying he wanted to make Blackpool the “fracking capital of Europe”.

Opponents say the number of jobs created by the industry will be 15,000 – not the 74,000 being claimed in Westminster – and there are no guarantees it will affect energy prices.

Mick Pearson, of Frack Free Freck, said: “It was a small contingent that went but it was useful. I would be over the moon to get a response to our letter.”

Energy firm Cuadrilla has moved to reassure residents over plans for Clifton Marsh, which is the main concern for Frack Free Freck.

A spokesman said: “Cuadrilla announced plans last July for a vertical exploration well to the south of Clifton, which would be used to provide information about the quantity and composition of the natural gas locked within the rock.

“The site would not be hydraulically fractured, and would be returned to its former condition when we have completed our work.

“There are no immediate plans for this site.”

Cuadrilla hopes to be able to drill, hydraulically fracture and test the flow of gas at two sites, near Wharles and Little Plumpton.

It is pulling out of sites at Anna’s Road and Preese Hall.

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