In the midst of the devolution debate, the Government have announced that York will be hit by two of its 27 fracking exploration sites, despite the City of York Council having already determined that York should remain ‘frack free’. In recent weeks we have heard talk of local people being given the power to make decisions over the future of their communities, and yet this decision is being made in the corridors of Whitehall.

As York has already set out a clear case as to why our historic city, our environment and our residential areas should not be exposed to hydraulic fracturing to release shale gas, I believe that the Government must respect this. We are being given just 16 weeks to consult and respond to these proposals, one of which allows for exploration right under our city centre.

Since the election we have seen subsidies to on-shore wind energy removed, replacing clean energy generation opportunities with more fossil fuels. On Tuesday 18 August 2015, the Government announced a mere 16 week period for consultation, expecting local authorities, to develop an evidence based report to state their case.

Rachael Maskell MP says, “The decision of local people must be final. People from right across York Central have said ‘no’ to fracking and I back them in this. This must be respected and heeded to. Our planet is in such a fragile state, and unless we lead the renewable revolution, energy prices will remain high and our planet will day by day be destroyed.

“I believe that the Government must bring an urgent halt to their proposals around fracking and pursue a sustainable energy policy. I will do all I can to ensure these projects are not given the go-ahead and drilling excavation does not take place in our city.”