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Eckington Against Fracking (EAF) are a group of residents who have come together to oppose the threat of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas (otherwise known as “fracking”), primarily in Eckington, Marsh Lane and our surrounding villages but also across the East Midlands and in the UK generally. We are extremely concerned and worried about the impact fracking would have on our pleasant and peaceful part of the world, and on our own health for several reasons:

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• greatly increased heavy traffic movements. Up to 100 HGVs moving into and out of potential wellsites and along our winding roads such as Dyche Lane and Snowden Lane each and every day;

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• potential for contamination of the aquifers (water basins). Fracking involves the fracturing of the shale rock strata below our aquifers by the use of fracking fluids which contain highly ascerbic and toxic chemicals, not all of which could be brought back up to the surface. Much of it would remain underground, and even the fracking companies themselves don't know for certain what might happen to it. We now know without question that fracking does cause earthquakes by causing stresses and fractures to existing geological faults. This means that fracking fluids with their toxic chemicals could migrate upwards through the more permeable rock layers above the shale deposits and into those which contain the aquifers. That could then potentially contaminate all plantlife growing on the surface of the land above; crops such as wheat, corn and barley, or rapeseed; vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, parsnips, cabbages, cauliflowers, etc: fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes; tree-grown fruits such as apples, pears and cherries; and even the grass and plants which are eaten and water which is drunk by our cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Yes, it could even get into our milk and our meat. Not only that, it could also destroy the already fragile wild flower ecology upon which bees and other pollinating insects rely; insects upon which we the human species also rely to pollinate and propagate the very plantlife we need for our own continued existence. It could even affect the plants growing in our gardens!

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• the general mental health implications of consistent and persistent noise, light and atmospheric pollution throughout the day but particularly at night for those unfortunate enough to have had fracking imposed upon them, and find themselves living next to a wellsite: people such as the residents of Marsh Lane, some of whom are literally only one field away from the site which INEOS have identified as a prime target for their fracking intentions and for which they now have permission to drill exploratory wells;

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• air pollution, not only from the drill sites themselves with their diesel-powered generators but also the constant traffic of HGVs to and from the sites. This is of particular concern regarding INEOS' proposed fracking site at Bramleymoor Lane which is very close not only to local residents but also to the Marsh Lane Junior School;

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• visual impact on the landscape, particularly having regard to the Green Belt;

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• impact on wildlife such as badgers, bats, mice, shrews and voles, and bird species such as owls, buzzards, kestrels, skylarks, lapwings and yellowhammers which rely on peace and quiet to be able to nest and raise their young, and – in the case of birds of prey – to be able to hunt;

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• impact on local nurseries, garden centres, bee-keepers and livery stables all of which depend on a clean atmosphere for their survival;

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• the overall massively-increased impact on the environment, on public health and on the wellbeing of livestock and wildlife of multiple wellpads and drilling sites in relatively small and well-populated semi-rural areas;

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And it's not even needed. Whatever the fracking companies and the Government might say to the contrary, shale gas is not necessary for our future energy needs, either as a “bridge” to a cleaner energy structure in 30-40 years’ time, nor to “keep the lights on” in the more immediate future. Indeed, there is growing scientific and academic evidence showing that fracking cannot be a "bridge" energy supply. And by the Government's own admission, from reports they have commissioned, we do not need shale gas to "keep the lights on".

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We oppose fracking, by peaceful means. This has involved raising public awareness through posters on local Notice Boards and slideshow presentations, and through our regular monthly meetings; encouraging and enabling local residents to make written objections to Planning Applications; giving verbal evidence to the Public Inquiry (June 2018) to support those objections; and engaging with our local MP Lee Rowley, Labour Party candidate Chris Peace and local councillors at all levels to obtain their support and discuss with them the way forward. We have also worked very closely with Coal Aston & Dronfield Against Fracking (CADAF) in opposing the application to start exploratory drilling at Bramleymoor Lane (Marsh Lane), and we continue to extend this spirit of co-operation with CADAF and other like-minded groups in the future.

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As well as this website, we have a very active Facebook page.

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EAF is a non-profit organisation and we are non-political. Our supporters come from all walks of life, all kinds of jobs and professions, and from across the political spectrum. We are not affiliated to any political party.

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We hold meetings once a month on the first Thursday of every month at The Miners Welfare, Pipeyard Lane, Eckington, S21 4FA; see our “Upcoming Meetings” page for full details. The meetings are open to the public so everyone is welcome to come along and express their views, ask questions, or simply sit and listen … you’ll find we’re a friendly bunch! There is good car parking and excellent disabled facilities on site. Refreshments are always available.

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We also publish a periodical Newsletter, copies of which you can find on this website.

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SO HOW DO I JOIN?

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Quite simply, you don’t have to!

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Just come along to one of our meetings and meet us.

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You can ask to join our Facebook group if you wish but it’s open to public view although only group members can contribute with posts, comments etc.

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We also run an Electronic Mailing List, sending out all the latest news and notifications by email: if you wish to be added to this List, just drop us an email using the link on our Contact page, giving us your first name and surname and email address and asking to be added to the Mailing List, and that’s it!

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Other than names and email addresses for contact purposes, Eckington Against Fracking don’t keep any other personal details about anyone, and no information is ever passed on to any third parties or other organisations. We conform strictly to the provisions and requirements of the Data Protection Act.