Gina will co-propose the following motion at County’s Full Council meeting on 16 October 2025
Extracting shale gas in the UK is expensive, environmentally damaging, and carries geological risks. Since 2016, the evidence against fracking – a method of recovering oil and gas from shale rock – has become clear, despite repeated attempts by the industry to present it positively. Concerns about fracking include water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, noise, heavy road traffic, land use, and the risk of induced earth tremors.
The promised benefits of fracking – jobs, lower energy prices, and energy security – were shown to be false during attempts to establish the industry in Lancashire. A Government-commissioned report found that only around 15% of jobs would be local, while former Energy Secretary Ed Davey confirmed it would have “no effect” on household bills.
Recent comments by Richard Tice MP, pledging to overturn the national ban on fracking and using the phrase “Frack Baby Frack,” have caused deep concern among Lancashire residents. Although the current Reform UK administration in Lancashire has stated it would not welcome fracking on the Fylde Coast, there remains widespread public concern that it could return elsewhere in the county.
This Council resolves:
i. To acknowledge that many Lancashire residents strongly oppose shale gas and oil extraction anywhere in the county.
ii. To note the current moratorium on fracking.
iii. To ask the Chief Executive to write to Government, calling for the existing moratorium on fracking to be replaced with a permanent national ban.