Panel rules fracking is safe

Scientists at the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society have ruled that Cuadrilla Resources may continue fracking after the government suspended activities.

Fracking, which involves blasting large amounts of water, sand and chemicals into rock to release natural gas, had been blamed for earthquakes and more than 50 tremors in Blackpool.

Now an expert panel, compiled by the government to assess the danger of the process, has ruled that it may continue – with tighter restrictions in place.

The report said that tremors would no more affect the population than a lorry driving past their house, and that the water table was unlikely to be contaminated by the chemicals involved.

Robert Mair, who chaired the working group, said: “We found that well integrity is of key importance, but the most common areas of concern, such as earthquakes with any significant impact or fractures reaching and contaminating drinking water, were very low risk.”

Lancashire Business View has compiled a special report into fracking and the effect it may have on the local economy, which you can read in the July/August edition.