Related
Recommended
Matt Williams

If you took part in our recent online action asking Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd MP, not to frack nature’s home, then thank you. Over 5000 messages have been sent to the Secretary of State.

If you haven't sent a message, then you can still do so.

We’d like you to ask your MP to write or speak to Amber Rudd MP, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. In February of this year, Amber Rudd promised an ‘outright ban’ on fracking in SSSIs and other protected areas. These places are home to some of England’s most special wildlife.

Amber Rudd still has time and a chance to fulfil this promise. But right now it doesn’t look like fracking in SSSIs will be banned as was promised.

Over the summer, Government awarded 159 new licences for onshore oil and gas. Within them fall 293 SSSIs that are outside the shelter of other protected areas where Government is promising to ban fracking, like National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Ruling out SSSIs from fracking would remove just an extra 0.9% of the land available to industry. It would make a tiny impact on fracking activity but represent a huge benefit for wildlife.

Rare and special wildlife like bitterns, water voles, adders and kittiwakes, is being put at risk. Let’s not allow the Government to frack nature’s home.

Please write to your MP to ask Amber Rudd to fulfil her promise and ban fracking in SSSIs.

We know that fracking poses a serious risk to the natural environment. The RSPB’s 'Are we fit to frack?' report published last year showed that a growing fracking industry in the UK could put wildlife at risk through loss of habitat, noise and light disturbance and pollution. That's why we want to see fracking banned in, under and near all protected areas, including SSSIs.

Three key points you may want to include in your letter are:

  • Ask your MP to thank Amber Rudd for promising to ban fracking in protected areas like National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and ask her to keep this promise.
  • Ask your MP to explain to Amber Rudd that Sites of Special Scientific Interest are some of England’s most sensitive wildlife sites and it would be common sense to rule them out.
  • Ruling out SSSIs from fracking would remove just an extra 0.9% of the land available to industry but provide a huge benefit to 293 SSSIs and their wildlife.

You can find out who your MP is, and how to contact them on the Find Your MP website (http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/) or by calling 020 7219 4272, alternatively all MPs can be reached in writing at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

Please send copies of your letters and any replies to my colleague Kim Matthews, Parliamentary Campaigns Officer, Don’t Frack Nature’s Home Campaign, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. Alternatively you can email us at campaigns@rspb.org.uk.

Thank you again for your support.

Matt Williams, Assistant Warden, RSPB Snape.