Dear
I am writing to you to make clear my opposition to hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") and other forms of
unconventional fossil fuel extraction and exploration being carried out in York.
Natural gas from hydraulic fracturing, like all fossil fuels, contributes to climate change. Conventional fossil
fuel reserves are already more than large enough to cause dangerous climate change. The exploitation of
new sources of fossil fuels adds to the risk of climate change and is likely to lead to Britain breaching its
obligations laid out in the Climate Change Act.
Hydraulic fracturing produces large quantities of water contaminated with harmful materials from the
fracking fluid and from underground minerals. It is not clear how such large quantities of contaminated
water could be managed in a responsible way.
Hydraulic fracturing also poses a threat to ground water. There will be risks posed by failures of the well
casings, which would allow the polluted water to flow into aquifers. Given the large numbers of wells
needed to develop shale gas extraction, these risks are significant.
Fracking also presents a hazard to health due to air pollution. This increase of air pollution will arise not
only from traffic to drilling sites, but also from the process of hydraulic fracturing itself.
I want City of York Council to declare itself a Frack Free Council, with a motion to oppose hydraulic
fracturing and other forms of unconventional fossil fuel exploration and extraction. A number of councils
have already passed similar motions, including Mendip District Council, Cheshire East Council, Brighton and
Hove City Council and Lewisham Council. I also want the council to produce a Local Plan that excludes the
possibility of any unconventional fossil fuel extraction. As this issue falls within the scope of the Joint
Framework on Minerals and Waste, please raise this issue with your colleagues at North Yorkshire County
Council and the North York Moors National Park.
Yours sincerely,