Fylde MP Mark Menzies says local people will have an opportunity to reject fracking once and for all after securing huge concessions from the Government.
Mr Menzies last night won a commitment from Government to a fair, transparent and independent process which will measure local consent, with Ministers making clear that if local people reject fracking it will not be permitted to go ahead under any circumstances. MP will also have a vote on the mechanism to measure consent which will effectively act as a Parliamentary veto on fracking.
During a debate in the House of Commons Mr Menzies said: “It is no secret that I would rather that the moratorium remain in place and that the Government stood by its manifesto commitment, that ‘we will not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely.’
“We in Fylde will not forget that fracking in our communities has twice led to national moratoriums. For people in Fylde this is not a debate about what might happen, it is about not repeating events that have happened, events that impacted on our countryside, our people, our homes, our communities.
“I continue, as I always have, to take an evidence-based approach. The geology has not changed, nor has the science. The industry has had more than a decade to show fracking can be carried out safely in Fylde. Every time they have tried the same thing has happened. We cannot keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different result. The 2019 Seismic event proved this.
“The only conclusion, on evidence, I can reach is that Fylde is and will remain wholly unsuitable for fracking.”
Mr Menzies made clear his support for the Government was entirely conditional on the concessions he fought to secure.
He said: “Labour taking control of the order paper was not something I could support. I was similarly opposed during the Brexit votes, I know where this leads and I am unwilling to re-open that Pandora’s Box.
“My one and only concern was and remains getting the best outcome for the people of Fylde.
“Alongside my Fylde coast colleagues, Paul Maynard and Scott Benton, I fought hard to secure concessions and assurances from the Government, so that people in Fylde will have their voice heard.
“I believe they share my conviction that fracking should never again go ahead in our communities.
“The Government has now made clear that if they say no, that will be the end of the matter, fracking in Fylde will be consigned to history.”
During the debate Mr Menzies made clear to Ministers his belief that no amount of compensation would sway local people from their strongly held views.
He told MPs: “The people of Fylde are not for sale, they cannot be bought.”
Earlier in the day Mr Menzies asked the Prime Minister to give her own assurances that fair, independent and transparent consultations would be held, with fracking firms excluded from direct involvement in the process.
He believes the Government now fully understands the strength of feeling in Fylde.
Mr Menzies said: “The steps taken, the concessions given, are beyond what we expected.
“This is a major win for people in Fylde, a chance to have their voice heard, to say no and to understand that no will mean no.
“Parliament will have a vote on how consent will be measured which is an effective veto on fracking.
“Local people will then have their own opportunity to block and proposals and to bring and end to this once and for all.
“It is on this process I am now focused.”