We are West Newton Said No, a small not for profit group of local residents and campaigners from East Yorkshire UK who care deeply about the planet and all who live on it.

For thirteen years the community have lived in fear of the oil and gas industry destroying the beautiful land and causing further devastation to the planet, and have been campaigning throughout that time against Rathlin Energy and their joint venture partners.

Rathlin Energy have recently been given permission by the Environment Agency to FRACK by exploiting a loophole in the government's legal definition of Fracking in the UK. A legal challenge is the only course of action available to stop this from happening.

Luckily, one brave individual, Peter Lomas, has decided to mount a legal challenge with the guidance and help of his legal team against the Environment Agency in hope of getting the permit quashed. He is a local resident and has been campaigning against the industry in East Yorkshire for the past 13 years.

UPDATE

Papers have now been lodged with the High Court and here are the grounds for challenge..

1. The EA breached environmental permitting and water protection regulations by failing to recognise the prohibition of inputting hazardous substances into groundwater. The EA has admitted an error in law by stating there would be an “indirect input” into groundwater. In fact, there would be a direct input. As a result, there was insufficient information for the public to comment, making a consultation so unfair as to be unlawful.

2. The EA breached its responsibilities on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, facilitating public participation and understanding the effects of proposed work on the climate.

3. The EA erred in law by granting Rathlin’s request for a variation of its environmental permit to allow fracking, without first reviewing the Hydraulic Fracturing Plan (HFP). This is a required document that aims to manage the risk of seismic events caused by fracking. Rathlin submitted the HFP to the EA three hours after the decision to allow fracking had been issued.

This is no mean feat.

HE NEEDS OUR HELP URGENTLY!

West Newton Said No have therefore set up this fundraiser to assist him financially with this potential legal challenge.

WHY ARE WE CONCERNED?

This permit poses a massive threat of significant seismicity and potential contamination of the drinking water for tens of thousands of the people who live in East and North Yorkshire, and the effects of climate change on the planet.

WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD FOR THEM TO TAKE THIS RISK!

This action could also have a significant positive impact on other communities facing similar challenges.

Recent statement by Mr Lomas..

“As can be seen by the grounds of my challenge it’s important that I oppose this environmental permit variation as far as I can.

“The regulators need to be held accountable at all stages of the environmental and planning processes. Scrutiny is paramount, as is transparency throughout all processes.

“Playing with figures, percentages and confusing wording when it comes to the very real risk of our precious drinking water being compromised is not negotiable. The risk of seismic events is a reality, it’s not an untruth.

“We simply cannot sit by and do nothing about it in the hope that it will all go away. We must all act and that’s why I’m acting as an individual, in the hope of quashing this permit variation.

“I thank everyone so far that have helped me in realising my legal challenge, and I hope that this will be a catalyst for others to follow suit.”

PLEASE HELP US TO HELP HIM!

1000 donations of £5 = £5000

1000 donations of £20 = £20,000

50 donations of £100 = £5000

20 donations of £1000 = £20,000

You get the idea.

Anything, however big or small, could make a huge difference. If you can't afford to donate please will you share this with all of your loved ones and anyone else who may be able to help with this important fundraiser.

Thank you so very much from the West Newton Said No group.

Feel free to visit our Facebook page for more information and to see how the community have fought over the years.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/245215531069998