Yorkshire golf club rejects four-figure approach by fracking firm

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir April 26, 2018 11:59

A Yorkshire golf club has turned down a request by a fracking firm to carry out seismic testing on its land.

The company, INEOS Upstream, offered Malton and Norton Golf Club £1,000 to carry out a survey to see if there was any shale gas deposits deep underground. However, the golf club rejected the offer.

There has been talk that fracking, the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into the ground to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas, could be a financial lifeline for the golf industry for a number of years, although the process is controversial due largely to environmental concerns.

In a letter to members, Malton and Norton’s committee said: “The board of directors at Malton and Norton Golf Club can confirm the club has been approached by FGP, on behalf of INEOS Upstream, in regard to proposed geophysical surveys. The board has rejected this request on behalf of the members and is monitoring the situation closely. The directors wish to make no further comment at the present time.”

Di Keal, district and town councillor for Norton West, where the golf club is situated, said: “I am delighted that the golf club has turned down the request and hope it will stick to its decision whatever further approaches are made by the industry.

“I also hope that this will also be a wake up call to all those people who have felt that fracking is a countryside issue that won’t affect Norton.

“I am appalled that INEOS think they can just come wading in to any local green space, including much used and valued leisure facilities like the Malton and Norton Golf Club.

“This is the preliminary work that paves the way for drilling wells, a heavily industrialised process, a huge increase in traffic movements – as if we don’t have enough problems with congestion and pollution in Norton already.

“Make no mistake the industry is knocking on lots of doors locally and I would urge anyone who they approach to follow the golf club’s example and say no.”

Ineos said that it was “in the early stages of discussions with a number of landowners about the seismic survey process.”

 

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir April 26, 2018 11:59
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