Save Formby Village Trees

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 30 January 2018 17:19
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Campaign Continues to Save the Formby Five!

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Formby Residents once again stepped in to prevent contractors removing the 5 large trees in Formby village earmarked for removal by Sefton Council.  Local people stood guard as others pursued a high court injunction to try and force Sefton to reconsider the fate of the Formby Village trees. 

For a second day all but minor pruning activity was brought to a halt, and as the hope of an injunction faded campaigners questioned if a bat study had been carried, as the holes (in the trees) described by the tree surgeons are potential roosting grounds for the nocturnal animals. 

Sefton Council has now sought a bat expert to survey the three large horsechesnuts in the village and this activity will be carried out on Wednesday.  Sefton FRAG Councillor Maria Bennett has recieved an email from Sefton's tree officer stating that there will be no tree removal tomorrow and depending on the result of the Bat Survey, work will begin again on Thursday.

Councillors and Parish Councillors have just recieved a letter from Sefton Council's Tree Officer stating the following.

"Dear Cllrs and Parish Councillors,

As per outcome of today there will be a bat survey undertaken tomorrow on the three Horse Chestnut trees planned for removal. I am writing as I wanted to let you all know that two members of staff from the contractor (idverde) will be climbing the trees and placing the equipment supplied by the professional independent bat expert in the trees. They will not be undertaking any cutting and we would appreciate it if people on the ground could give them space to undertake these works safely.

I did say today that no contractors would be on site tomorrow hence this email clarifying things – I reiterate no cutting of the trees will be taking place tomorrow 31st January 2018.

Kind Regards"

Well done to all who took part in today's protest, See you all on Thursday!

Please watch this space for updates or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or follow FRAGOFF on facebook and twitter.

 

 

Cllr Bennett Submits 'Beefed Up' Fracking Motion

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Last Updated: Friday, 19 January 2018 16:45
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Cllr Maria Bennett Seeks to Strengthen Seftons' Stance on Fracking

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With Fracking companies camped out on the border of Sefton, FRAG Councillors have sought to strengthen Sefton Councils' resolve in shutting the door to this industry and sending a clear message to national leaders.  A previous motion put forward by Sefton Labour Party was not as strong as it could have been and reflected the then position of the National Labour Party in supporting Fracking in the right circumstances?  However a change of leadership and the election of Jeremy Corbyn saw a commitment to a complete ban on fracking in Labour's 2017 Manifesto. 

Cllr Bennett's fracking motion will be presented to the Full Council Thursday 25th January 6:30pm Bootle Town Hall (see upcoming meetings).

Maria Bennett and other members the Sefton Independent group will be asking the full Council to support "Commiting to not allow any fracking activities, including survey work, on Council owned or controlled land and property".and committing to the "need to demonstrate beyond any doubt that any adverse affects can be eliminated". 

Maria said "its important that our Council is taking all the active steps it can to prevent Fracking getting a foothold in our borough, as well as being outspoken in its opposition to the onshore shale gas industry".  She also said that "demonstrating that adverse affects can be eliminated, is an important choice of words.  Many planning applications seek to mitigate any harm caused by their development.  Too often their proposed mitigation measures fail to address the full harm of development. Be it that they weren't rigorous enough in the first place or that they are not implemented properly.  What I am asking for is that the Industry demonstrate that they can develop without any harm that would require mitigation.  This I feel raises the bar a little higher". Finally she concluded that,"although stronger than previous motions on fracking I was disappointed at what I was told I had to remove by Sefton Legal Officers, in order for my motion to be allowed to go forward to a vote.  I will be taking further advice on this matter and I'm quite prepared to revisit this issue if I discover a stronger position was possible.  Other parts of the UK such as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have banned fracking.  Its only England that has had this practice unwantedly heaped upon us.  It is more than a little hypocritical that the Conservative Government uses votes from the DUP, an Northern Irish Party to to achieve support for a practice banned in Northern Ireland".