Home Local News County councillors ask Government to publish full shale gas report

County councillors ask Government to publish full shale gas report

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Lancashire county councillors have voted unanimously to call on the Government to publish a full version of a report about the potential impact of a shale gas industry on the rural economy.

The report ‘Shale Gas Rural Economy Impacts’ was published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in July 2014, but with many words left out as they had been ‘redacted’ before publication.

A Notice of Motion, moved by County Councillor Marcus Johnstone and seconded by County Councillor Gina Dowding at a meeting of the full council at County Hall today (Thursday), called on the Government to release the report in full. The Notice of Motion was approved unanimously by councillors.

County Councillor Johnstone explained: “Many people have concerns about the potential development of a shale gas industry, including the availability of relevant information about how the industry might affect the community they live in.

“This report could be a valuable source of information but it was heavily redacted when it was published and the Government has so far been unwilling to release the full document.

“The Notice of Motion means that the council will now formally ask the Government to release the report in full, in the interests of transparency.”

County Councillor Dowding added: “It’s very clear from what you can see of this report that a large amount of information has been left out of the published version, and it appears that the omissions include some significant details.

“The support given by all county councillors to the Notice of Motion reflects a belief that the public should be entitled to see that information, to contribute to a full and open debate.

“We hope the Government will respond quickly and positively to our request.”

The council’s chief executive Jo Turton will now write to Defra on behalf of the county council, asking for the complete report to be published.

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