15th July 2014
Councillors from East Sussex were urged this morning to block any attempts at fracking in the county.
A petition, organised by Friends of the Earth, was presented to the chair of the county council. It asked East Sussex County Council to “apply the precautionary principle and refuse to allow any attempt at hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) for hydrocarbons anywhere in East Sussex”. The petition said the risks of harm to the environment and public health “significantly outweigh” any potential economic benefits from extraction.
The petition attracted 495 signatures. It will be reviewed by a senior councillor and the petition organiser, Andy Durling, coordinator of Eastbourne and District Friends of the Earth, may then be asked to address the council.
The Bishop of Lewes, the Right Reverend Richard Jackson (left), the Chairman of East Sussex County Council, Cllr Colin Belsey (receiving the petition), Lib Dem for Eastbourne Devonshire, Cllr Steve Wallis, Janelle Rakow, of Eastbourne and District Friends of the Earth, and Andy Durling, the group’s co-ordinator presenting the petition
Categories: Campaign, Environment, Politics, Regulation
DRILL OR DROP? 
Ruth, excuse for pointing this out: 495 people out of 800,000 people in East Sussex. This doesn’t strike me as a mandate. It certainly will carry very little weight with elected officials.