Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has called on the Prime Minister to ensure that any income generated from the controversial process of ‘fracking’ is kept local and given to parish councils in the areas most affected.
Tessa Munt wants to see millions of pounds of cash generated from fracking – the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release gas and oil – staying local.
She said in an interview with a national newspaper: “It’s no secret I’m opposed to the plans to start fracking on the Mendip Hills in Somerset.”
“This beautiful county won’t have the same attraction if its hills are covered with drillheads. There are 26,000 people in the county who depend on visitors taking holidays here for their livelihoods, and we love them coming here. We don’t want anything to spoil that!”
“Last week, I asked David Cameron whether he’d direct the money he wants to be the ‘incentive’ to our local Parish Councils where fracking will take place, instead of paying it to District or County Councils – who have other priorities.”
“In my neck of the woods, Parish Councillors are the people who know what their communities want and I’m sure they’d jump at the chance of realising their village’s dreams – a playground for children, installing speed cameras, re-opening the Youth Club, a Community Police Officer, insulating homes to keep the bills down, or repairing the Church roof.”
“This has happened before. The ‘Sullum Voe Agreement’ means the French Company Total (which just happens to have been in the news this week as it’s interested in fracking for UK shale gas) has to pay the Shetland Islands Council when any gas or oil passes through the terminal at Sullum Voe on Shetland.”
“The payments are linked to the sale price, so the Shetland Islanders earn more when Total’s profits are up, and the Islanders are expected to be £200million better off during the lifetime of their Agreement!”
“No doubt, the Conservatives in my District and County Councils are licking their lips at the thought of millions in extra cash rolling in once they approve applications for fracking.”
“As you read this, they’re probably writing new advice for their planning officers – and persuading themselves of the many virtues of fracking which had escaped them until this week.”
“The problem with bunging the money to District and County Councils is they’ll spend it somewhere else, or on something miles and miles away from where the real damage is being done.”
“They act on calls from the main towns in the area, which means rural communities so often miss out.”
“And in the case of Conservative-run Somerset County Council, they’d probably whip the money straight into the bank ‘for a rainy day’ – never, ever going outside and seeing that it’s absolutely pouring on taxpayers – who expect the Council to deliver services in exchange for their Council Tax payments, not for the Council to play at being a bank.”
“I can almost guarantee the idea of paying the cash to the Parishes will bring howls of dismay from envious District and County Councils. They’ll complain the cash sums are far too large for Parish Councillors to be left in charge of, as they usually manage budgets of thousands, or tens of thousands, not millions.”
“But I say they’re the very best people – they’ll manage money carefully because they’re used to doing that – and they’ll focus on what’s really wanted.”
“So, if the Tories are going to force fracking on villages on the Mendip Hills – or anywhere else for that matter – then let’s have the sweeteners paid right into the hands of the locals who are most affected. That would certainly liven up the Parish Council elections next year. So, Mr Cameron, if you must frack, let’s see localism in action!”
