A medical charity has called for fracking near Preston not to go ahead due to concerns about the health of local residents.
AdvertisementDr David McCoy, director of Medact, has written to Lancashire County Council as part of the consultation process on the Cuadrilla plans for Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road.
He warns the fracking process would “pose unacceptable risks to the health and well-being of local residents.”
Dr McCoy, who writes on behalf of around 900 doctors, nurses and health professionals in the UK, goes on to say the current system of regulation is not for for purpose in his opinion.
He also claims environmental pollution will be caused and could be “toxic and harmful” to the local area.
Friends of the Earth’s North West campaigner Helen Rimmer said: “This latest objection, from a respected organisation of public health professionals, adds to the growing call for Lancashire County Council to refuse these risky fracking plans.
“With evidence of fracking’s harmful impacts on health, the environment and our climate – and the industry’s hype on the benefits amounting to hot air – it is clear fracking is the wrong solution for the Lancashire economy and communities and should be thrown out.”
More than 11,000 responses have been received to Cuadrilla’s plans to frack at two sites near Preston.
Lancashire County Council has delayed a decision on both locations until the end of January.
Barbara Richardson from Roseacre Awareness Group, said: “Roseacre Awareness Group represents over 100 residents some of whom live just 300m from one of the proposed fracking sites.
“We are pleased a prestigious organisation such as Medact have recognised the dangers and, along with other prestigious health organisations such as Breast Cancer UK and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, are highlighting the inherent risks. Even LCC’s own Director of Public Health has made over 40 recommendations in his report to LCC.
“There are far too many risks to peoples’ health associated with fracking as emerging evidence from the US and other countries is proving – LCC must protect residents and reject these plans.”
The full Medact letter can be seen on their website.
What’s your view on fracking in Lancashire? Do you support it? Are you against it? Let us know in the comments below