News
The fracking cover-up: Defra censors key report 63 times in 13 pages
A freedom of information request to read Defra’s internal report on the impacts of fracking has let us find out what the government really thinks.
Problem is, the short (13-page) report contained 63 sections that were blanked out.
These include:
- “Three major social impacts on rural communities” — blanked out
- “Impact on house prices” — blanked out
- “Impacts already experienced by communities near fracking sites” — blanked out
- “Impact on businesses and business rates” — blanked out
Only three paragraphs of the Conclusions survived. Even the name of the author was removed.
Most bizarrely, officials claimed that there was a “strong public interest” in withholding the information … from the public!
Source: Daily Mail
Comments
Chris Redston
August 16, 2014 at 13:51I am astonished that this wasn’t headline news. It is disgraceful that the government is trying to push fracking on unwilling and misinformed communities, but is deliberately withholding information that completely undermines their case. Everyone in an area that might be fracked – which is now 60% of the country – should be warned: if it happens near you, you’ll be lucky to sell your house for any price.