Stop Ryedale fracking

Fracking has destructive effects on the environment and communities, photo Casey Hugelfink (Creatvie Commons) (Click to enlarge)

John Sibbald, Wakefield and Pontefract Socialist Party and Frack Free Wakefield District

A Yorkshire council has permitted the UK's first fracking operation since 2011.

Studies have found that in other countries, the shale gas extraction method has poisoned water supplies and heightened earthquake risk.

At a two-day meeting of the North Yorkshire County Council Planning Committee, hundreds protested. They were objecting to an application by Third Energy, 97% owned by Barclays bank, to frack for gas in Ryedale.

The first day was taken up with the many objectors giving evidence. The next day was the turn of Third Energy.

Their stooges told us that fracking is completely safe and that health and safety regulations here are far too tough to allow any of the problems seen in America or Australia. They argue that gas has been produced in Ryedale for over twenty years. This is, however, by conventional drilling, not hydraulic fracturing.

Profits

Now, Third Energy and their masters at Barclays have decided the conventional method is not good enough. They want a boost to their profits, which they believe they can only get from fracking.

North Yorkshire Council is dominated by Tories, and none of the planning committee are from the Ryedale area. So it was no surprise they voted seven to four in favour of Third Energy's application.

This decision could open the floodgates to fracking in other areas. Third Energy is already looking to drill another 19 wells in Ryedale.

The Socialist Party opposes fracking, and fights for public ownership of energy and mass investment in green technology. Fracking is destructive wherever it happens. Anti-fracking campaigners must call for a ban on it everywhere - not just, as some prominent activists are demanding, in places of scenic beauty.

'Planning for the Planet' - socialism and the environment: Ł9.95 from leftbooks.co.uk

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.