Brighton & Hove Green councillors travelled to Balcombe on Monday August 5 to show support for residents in their stand against fracking.
Protests have been ongoing since fracking company Cuadrilla began exploratory drilling just outside the West Sussex village.
In October 2012 Brighton & Hove Green councillors proposed a successful motion to Full Council declaring the city a ‘no fracking zone’, citing examples of water contamination and earthquakes as a result of the practice.
Councillor Alex Phillips, who proposed the motion, said:
“Hydraulic fracturing caused minor earthquakes in the Blackpool area. If that were to happen in Balcombe, it would have a devastating impact on the Brighton-London railway line and thousands of the city’s commuters.
“Fracking has also been linked to the contamination of local water sources – which is critical in places like Brighton & Hove where we rely on the one aquifer for all of our water.
“This government is stubbornly supporting fracking companies, even when local residents voice their opposition. No one fully understands the significant long- term impacts of fracking. We once again call on the government to end fracking in the UK and instead invest in green, renewable energy.“
You must be logged in to post a comment.