Portsmouth Water has issued a statement clarifying its role with regard to the possible use of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas production in its area of supply and expressing regret that it is not a statutory consultee to the planning process.
The statement says:
“It is our responsibility in this area to ensure such a service is not compromised by such activities as fracking for shale gas.”
“There are arguments for and against fracking, it is the role of Government to balance these, not Portsmouth Water.”
“Before fracking for shale gas may commence, a number of statutory applications must be made by the oil exploratory company. Regretfully Portsmouth Water is not a statutory consultee to the planning process.”
The statement explains that the Environment Agency is responsible for ground water and environmental protection and is therefore responsible for any proposals to ensure that groundwater and the environment is protected, should hydraulic fracking be implemented.
However, the water company has pointed out that while it is not a statutory consultee, it works very closely with the Environment Agency and Hampshire County Council regarding any application.
Porstmouth Water said that before fracking can commence, exploratory boreholes are drilled by the oil exploration company in order to determine the viability of the site and that the drilling is governed by statutory processes. The company has recently worked closely with the Environment Agency regarding an application for an exploratory borehole in the Havant area and objected on the basis of adverse risk.
The oil company has withdrawn its application and considering the Environment Agency's comments.
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