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Cheshire police chief accuses fracking firm IGas of 'irresponsible' behaviour Cheshire police chief accuses fracking firm IGas of 'irresponsible' behaviour
(35 minutes later)
Fracking company IGas has been accused of irresponsible behaviour and risking serious injury by the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire.Fracking company IGas has been accused of irresponsible behaviour and risking serious injury by the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire.
The outspoken attack by John Dwyer follows the eviction of protesters from IGas’s site at Upton in January. Dwyer said this turned out to be wholly unnecessary as the company subsequently announced it was abandoning its plans for the site.The outspoken attack by John Dwyer follows the eviction of protesters from IGas’s site at Upton in January. Dwyer said this turned out to be wholly unnecessary as the company subsequently announced it was abandoning its plans for the site.
“I am astonished that you have made such an announcement only some three weeks after a complex eviction process, which risked the safety of the public, protesters, bailiffs and police,” said Dwyer in a letter to IGas chief executive Stephen Bowler on 9 February.“I am astonished that you have made such an announcement only some three weeks after a complex eviction process, which risked the safety of the public, protesters, bailiffs and police,” said Dwyer in a letter to IGas chief executive Stephen Bowler on 9 February.
“I find it incredible that a company that describes itself as a responsible operator, with the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental protection, would have allowed the bailiff’s action to proceed and risk serious injury to all involved whilst at the same time deciding not to proceed with its interests at the site,” he said.“I find it incredible that a company that describes itself as a responsible operator, with the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental protection, would have allowed the bailiff’s action to proceed and risk serious injury to all involved whilst at the same time deciding not to proceed with its interests at the site,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that your company has acted so irresponsibly and failed to understand local community concerns and risks.”“It is unfortunate that your company has acted so irresponsibly and failed to understand local community concerns and risks.”
Dwyer asked IGas to reimburse the £200,000 cost of the “wholly unnecessary operation” but a spokeswoman for IGas told the Guardian the company had refused to do so.Dwyer asked IGas to reimburse the £200,000 cost of the “wholly unnecessary operation” but a spokeswoman for IGas told the Guardian the company had refused to do so.
“The eviction involved the enforcement of a court order granted to deal with trespassers, who were on the land illegally,” said the IGas spokeswoman. “Police involvement in the eviction was a matter for the relevant local police authority and for them to assess the level of policing required to support the process.”“The eviction involved the enforcement of a court order granted to deal with trespassers, who were on the land illegally,” said the IGas spokeswoman. “Police involvement in the eviction was a matter for the relevant local police authority and for them to assess the level of policing required to support the process.”
Dwyer is due to meet Cheshire chief constable Simon Byrne next week to discuss IGas’s refusal.Dwyer is due to meet Cheshire chief constable Simon Byrne next week to discuss IGas’s refusal.
Donna Hume, a campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said: “It really comes to something when the police want their money back – maybe the government should be more focused on listening to local people rather than squandering taxpayers’ money on preventing peaceful opposition.”
IGas had applied to explore the Upton site’s potential to produce gas from the coal underneath, a process called coal-bed methane (CBM) extraction. The company said seismic surveys showed the area was less promising than hoped for CBM but it has not ruled out future applications to investigate shale gas potential at the site.IGas had applied to explore the Upton site’s potential to produce gas from the coal underneath, a process called coal-bed methane (CBM) extraction. The company said seismic surveys showed the area was less promising than hoped for CBM but it has not ruled out future applications to investigate shale gas potential at the site.
IGas is currently exploring two main regions for shale gas, north-west England and an area covering the east Midlands and south Yorkshire. It has applied to drill two exploratory wells at Misson in north Nottinghamshire. The company has 17 shale gas exploration blocks in England, covering 270,000 acres in total.IGas is currently exploring two main regions for shale gas, north-west England and an area covering the east Midlands and south Yorkshire. It has applied to drill two exploratory wells at Misson in north Nottinghamshire. The company has 17 shale gas exploration blocks in England, covering 270,000 acres in total.
David Cameron has said his government is going “all out” for shale gas, and ministers last year promised to “fast track” planning applications after Lancashire County Council rejected two fracking bids by another shale company, Cuadrilla. Ministers’ letters have also revealed they are as considering classifying shale gas wells as “nationally significant infrastructure projects”, which would take planning decisions out of the hands of local authorities.David Cameron has said his government is going “all out” for shale gas, and ministers last year promised to “fast track” planning applications after Lancashire County Council rejected two fracking bids by another shale company, Cuadrilla. Ministers’ letters have also revealed they are as considering classifying shale gas wells as “nationally significant infrastructure projects”, which would take planning decisions out of the hands of local authorities.