THE Ulster Unionist Party will today (Thursday) announce that they do not support fracking taking place in Fermanagh. Jim Nicholson, the UUP’s MEP candidate will be in the county to launch the party’s policy on the controversial drilling method, saying they will adopt a ‘precautionary approach’ to it.
The policy, which has the backing of UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, will state that there is “no evidence forthcoming” that there would be any local economic benefits if fracking was to proceed.
The UUP is expected to include in its policy a call for the Government to “insist” that any licence applications and planning permission for fracking should be the subject of an Environmental Impact Assessment, a Health Impact Assessment and should bring “direct economic benefit” to the community.
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