LGA - Councils respond to Government fracking announcement

29 Jul 2014 01:59 PM

Cllr Mike Jones, Chair of the Local Government Association's Environment and Housing Board responded to yesterday's government announcement on fracking.

"Communities, through their democratically-elected councils and the planning system, will decide whether fracking is right for them. Given the significant tax breaks being proposed for the firms involved and likely returns, an offer from the industry to local communities of one per cent of revenues and compensation schemes is not enough, and we are seeking a better deal for residents if extraction of oil and gas takes place.

"The community in an area where any council approves the extraction of shale gas must not be short-changed and should receive up to 10 per cent of the revenue from sales to mitigate the adverse impacts of development and deliver significant community benefit. Payment of all community benefits and revenues must also be mandatory, not voluntary, and enforceable by law. If any site is given permission it must be subject to robust and independent monitoring to ensure that the local environment is fully protected."

Contact

Greg Burns, Senior Media Relations Officer
Local Government Association
Telephone: 020 7664 3184
Email: greg.burns@local.gov.uk
Media Office (for out-of-hours contact): 020 7664 3333
Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ