I felt compelled27 Oct 2017 12:43
Dear Rt Hon Members of Parliament,
Reference Prime Ministers Questions aired on BBC2 25/10/2017.
During a televised Prime Ministers Questions it was noted that Prime Minister Teresa May gave her full support to the shale gas industry and pledged one billion pounds to local councils, plus income from the business rates involved respectively to each council.
I would therefore like to ask what support is being given to conventional drilling and none fracking oil and gas companies?
Of late, several "Home Grown" UK based oil companies have made discoveries of commercial oil and gas deposits around the UK, many of which are onshore. Permissions have been given and refused on both exploration and production by local councillors, who it seems are not acting in the best interest of the UK economy and not granting planning permission for production, even though the relevant Planning Officer has recommended the project, leaving these companies to pick up the legal costs in exorbitant legal appeals.
With Brexit looming I know you understand the importance of the UK being a key player and being self- supportive when it comes to energy.
A prime example of problems encountered by oil companies, is that of Egdon Resources, Europa Oil and Gas, Celtique Energy and for example Union Jack Oil which was given permission by the local council to explore and drill in North Lincolnshire with its partners. The venture returned a substantial oil and gas find, of approximately fifteen years worth of commercially viable oil, and only needed planning permission to bring this find to production.
However, they were hit by a barrage of objections and planning refused.
The companies involved addressed each concern by the objectors, by supplying safe and amenable mitigation. Resulting in almost all concerned removing their objections.
The councils own planning department had already recommended the production planning. However, the decision for going to production was overruled with the most trivial of excuses by councillors and there-in lies the problem.
I know there are a number of conventional drilling companies in the United Kingdom that are experiencing the same issues. Being unable or restricted from producing conventional oil and gas puts more onuses on the use of fracking.
The concept and effects of shale gas fracking has set the country alight with concerns of earth tremors, poisoned land and water, all of which are undesirable but as yet unproven.
I have to agree with the Prime Minister that UK drilling and exploration companies have the safest records and statistics in the world.
Britain still needs oil and gas as our infrastructure is not ready for a revolutionary green takeover, and we may be many years away from such.
With the Prime Minister offering full support for the shale gas industry, I wonder what your stance is on supporting responsibly run companies that are waiting to supply conventional supplies.
Yours Sincere
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