COULD THE PEAK DISTRICT BE FRACKED?

Michael Fallon, Minister of State for Energy, announced before Christmas a ‘UK frackingroadmap’ that could pave the way to fracking in the High Peak.

The BritishGeological Survey also produced a survey in 2013 which showed shale gas reserves located between Glossop and Sheffield north of the A57, and also between Glossop and Chapel-en-le-Frith, including parts of the north of the Peak District National Park

Frack Free Glossop is particularly concerned by the statement made by Lord Howell of Guildford, Secretary of State for Energy under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chancellor George Osborne’s father-in-law, who in a House of Lords debate in July 2013 said “there are large, uninhabited and desolate areas, certainly in parts of the North East, where there is plenty of room for fracking, well away from anybody’s residence, and where it could be conducted without any threat to the rural environment” (3.) Lord Howell later said that he meant to say “the North West”.

Campaigners from Glossop have been regular visitors to Barton Moss in Salford, where protesters opposed to an exploratory well by Igas have been camped since November.

Members of Derbyshire Green Party, including former Green Parliamentary Candidate for the High Peak Peter Allen from Glossop, visited the Barton Moss site on Saturday 5^th January 2013.

Local campaigner Martin Porter said “The Tories are well aware of how unpopular fracking and they fear a revolt across the Home Counties, hence the call by the Chancellor’s father-in-law to frack the north. With protests groups popping up in every town or village at risk of fracking, our almost uninhabited moorlands must look a tempting place to frack. However there are plenty of people ready to defend them. My grandfather took part in1932 Kinder Scout Mass Trespass, and any attempt to frack the Peak District would see direct action on a similar scale.

“We call on anyone who doesn’t want to see fracking here to join us on 12^th January 2013 when Frack Free Glossop will be travelling to Salford for a day of solidarity with the defenders of BartonMoss. Anyone who wants to come along can contact us at frackfreeglossop@inbox.com.”