New fracking laws could threaten Westbury countryside

WESTBURY could lose much of its protection from fracking if the House of Commons votes to change restrictions on drilling locations.

This week Parliament is expected to discuss the Government’s plan to lift the ban on fracking in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Despite there being four licence applications affecting Westbury and its surrounding villages, under current laws parts of the town and surrounding countryside  would be shielded by the special protections given to  Westbury White Horse and Salisbury Plain.

However, if MPs vote this week to lift the special protection given to AONBs, the entire area could become fair game for fuel companies.

The Department for the Environment’s proposed new regulations say that as long as fracking takes place below 1,200 metres, it will be allowed in National Parks, AONBs, the Broads, and World Heritage Sites. If fracking is permitted, these areas could be see fracking rigs, light, air and noise pollution from lorries, generators and flaring.

Greenpeace believes that the proposals are being ushered through Parliament, rather than receiving the full level of scrutiny from MPs and the public. Head of UK energy and climate change at the group, Daisy Sands said,  “The government is breaking the promise that national parks would not be fracked, but they are trying to sneak these regulations through the back door of Parliament without any consent from the public and without any proper debate for MPs.

“People who love or live near this beautiful area, and who care about climate change will not stand for a government which is riding roughshod over democracy to industrialise our most beautiful landscapes and damage the climate.”

Greenpeace estimates that 23 MPs have constituencies that include areas that could be affected.

Westbury MP Andrew Murrison could not be contacted by White Horse News to comment before we went to press.

When the possibility of drilling for fuel in the area was announced earlier this year, a number of local residents were concerned about the impact on the environment and public health.

Wiltshire Council recently announced that they would be unlikely to grant permission for companies to explore in the county, but the authority does not have absolute power. If Wiltshire doesn’t decide on planning applications quickly enough, the Government can intervene.