There is a lot in the Queen's Speech that I support and applaud. It is obvious that the Liberal Democrats have exercised a lot of influence, not least in the far-reaching pension reforms. However, the one item that I am finding it hard to come to terms with is the proposal to allow fracking companies to drill under people's homes without their permission.
The Guardian reports that the current laws of trespass require land and home owners to give
permission for shale gas and oil drilling under their land, but the
government intends to end this requirement in order to speed up
fracking. Drilling can extend up to 3km horizontally underground from a
central well pad.
The process of fracking requires a fairly significant infrastructure so as to get the gas to the appropriate storage point from which it can be used. Furthermore, the companies involved in this process are effectively 'mining' a greenhouse gas. That cannot fit in with our climate change targets.
The biggest objection to this proposal however is the way it seeks to subvert the existing and long-standing rights of landowners. It a putting the interests of big corporations ahead of ordinary people. It is essentially an illiberal measure and I am astonished that Liberal Democrats Ministers allowed it to go-ahead, in fact in some cases appear to have promoted the measure.
This proposal needs to be kicked out.
Welsh Liberal Democrats Councillor for Cwmbwrla Ward, City and County of Swansea - Please buy my novels at Author Page
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Friday, June 06, 2014
1 comment:
I am happy to address most contributions, even the drunken ones if they are coherent, but I am not going to engage with negative sniping from those who do not have the guts to add their names or a consistent on-line identity to their comments. Such postings will not be published.
Anonymous comments with a constructive contribution to make to the discussion, even if it is critical will continue to be posted. Libellous comments or remarks I think may be libellous will not be published.
I will also not tolerate personation so please do not add comments in the name of real people unless you are that person. If you do not like these rules then start your own blog.
Oh, and if you persist in repeating yourself despite the fact I have addressed your point I may get bored and reject your comment.
The views expressed in comments are those of the poster, not me.
I can't see it standing up to judicial review anyway, so I'm expecting it to be injuncted and declared unlawful pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhere are the governments lawyers on this? Surely they are pointing out that the government cant pass a law like this?