world heritage sites

Government “trying to pull a fast one” on fracking in National Parks

Last edited 15 December 2015 at 4:08pm
15 December, 2015

MPs are expected to vote tomorrow on the Government’s plan to U-turn on its pledge of an ‘outright ban’ on fracking in National Parks and other protected areas.

The vote on the Government’s Draft Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2015 could see fracking allowed beneath National Parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Groundwater Protection Zones, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and World Heritage sites. This could expose many of the UK’s most fragile and treasured landscapes to noise, air and light pollution, resulting from fracking rigs being situated around the edges of protected areas, in order to drill down and then horizontally across to access the shale gas reserves beneath.

Article tagged as: AONBs, energy, fracking, national parks, SSSIs, world heritage sites

Government completes U-turn to allow fracking under national parks, amid Tory rebellion

Last edited 16 December 2015 at 5:06pm
16 December, 2015

MPs have voted by 298 – 261 in favour of fracking under national parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), World Heritage Sites, and Groundwater Protection Zones.

The vote saw a number of Conservative MPs rebel against the Government – although the full breakdown of how MPs voted is yet to be released. Greenpeace said the Government has broken its promise, having previously committed to an “outright ban” on fracking in protected areas.

Article tagged as: Andrew Turner, AONBs, fracking, Hannah Martin, national parks, Sarah Wollaston, SSSIs, world heritage sites

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