Preston and Lancashire groups have released statements against fracking in the UK.

In November 2019, the UK government prohibited fracking – a technique which involves drilling into the earth and recovering oil and natural gas from shale rock.

This decision came into force after research revealed the negative environmental impact on the former Preston New Road fracking site.

Read more: Frack Free Lancashire pleased to see Preston New Road fracking site abandoned by Cuadrilla

Earlier this month, the moratorium on fracking was lifted as part of Prime Minister Liz Truss’s energy plan.

Oppositions have been raised by green groups claiming this technique will make the effects of climate change even worse.

Susan Holliday from Preston New Road Action Group, the residents’ group close to Cuadrilla’s site on the Fylde, said: “It is astounding that the government have decided to lift the moratorium on fracking, as they have continually said that they would only do so if the science proved that it could be done safely.

“As far as we are aware, nothing has changed since the earth tremors of 2019. What has happened to the report that the BGS were commissioned to produce? 

“Once again, communities are going to have the cloud of fracking hanging over them. As a community, the people around Preston New Road have consistently demonstrated that they don’t want fracking.”

Read more: ‘My bed moved’ – largest tremor yet at Cuadrilla fracking site felt in Preston

Claire Stephenson from Frack Free Lancashire said: “We’re in the midst of a climate crisis. There can be no mitigation of this fact, and to allow fracking to restart is both dangerous and regressive.

“The shocking lack of details in this decision will need to be considered within a legal context. There has been a desktop review done by the British Geological Survey, in respect of the safety aspect of fracking and the unmitigable earthquakes that Cuadrilla previously caused.

“Where is this report? What fresh science is there to support this reckless reneging on the moratorium?

“Communities do not support fracking. We have been here before. This is not a new experience for residents in Lancashire and beyond. We’ve dealt with this nightmare for over 10 years now. Communities want renewable energy sources.”

Read more: Government reimburses £1.28m towards cost of policing Preston New Road fracking protests

Claire went on to say that 100 constituencies of Conservative voters surveyed in a poll showed support of wind and solar farms for energy production.

In the survey 76 per cent of people supported offshore wind, 81% supported solar and 74% people were in favour of onshore wind. Fracking had just 34 per cent support of Conservative voters, who preferred onshore wind to fracking by a majority of two to one.

She said: “As we’ve previously stated, after 10+ years of fracking attempts in Lancashire, there has been absolutely no progress other than communities being torn apart, mass uncontrollable methane emissions, structural damage from earthquakes and most notable of all: zero commercial gas produced.

“We stand strongly opposed to fracking anywhere and will fiercely challenge any attempt to restart this dirty technology.”

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

What are your opinions on fracking as a source of energy production? Let us know in the comments below.