An energy company, London Local Energy, claims to have identified natural gas “worth millions” under an industrial state in Willesden, London. It is now set to apply for a license to begin exploring the possibility of fracking in the area. [1]

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP, responded to this news in a letter to London’s Evening Standard:

There is no place for fracking in our city [“Energy firm wants to drill for gas under NW10”, July 10]. London is already in the midst of a public health emergency and this proposal to drill for shale gas in Brent would be catastrophic for the local area, which exceeds the EU’s legal clean air limits.

The potential consequences of fracking — including noise pollution and risks to drinking water — make it unsuitable anywhere in the UK. But, the impact could be much greater in a populated city such as London.

While the Government may be completely ambivalent, we will not sit back while prospectors dig up our land. Alongside my colleagues, I will oppose any attempt to extract shale gas from under Londoners’ feet.

Notes:

[1] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/fracking-could-begin-in-london-after-multimillion-natural-gas-find-a3584726.html

Read the letter in the Evening Standard here.