Lancashire for Shale

Lancashire for Shale logo

Lancashire for Shale is a pro-shale business group in Lancashire, set up in July 2016. It is closely affiliated with another pro-shale lobby group North West Energy Task Force (NWETF), which was run by lobbyists Westbourne Communications. Both groups are part-funded by fracking firm Cuadrilla Resources and its Preston New Road site co-owner Centrica, among others.

Lancashire for Shale, like the NWETF, has been criticised by local communities campaigning against fracking in their region as operating as a 'front group' for the shale gas companies.

Activities

Mission statement:

Lancashire For Shale is charged with understanding how the responsible extraction of natural gas from Lancashire’s shale can be used to create jobs, generate economic growth and boost local revenues.'

This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

Affiliations

• Cuadrilla
• North West Energy Task Force
• Westbourne Communications

Funding

According to its website:

Lancashire For Shale receives funding support from a range of people, businesses and organisations including Cuadrilla Resources and Centrica, WJF Technical Support, Abbey Telecom, Stay Blackpool and the Onshore Energy Services Group. We thank them for helping us to position Lancashire to make the most of the jobs, opportunities and investment that shale gas could one day bring. Our activities and views are independent of our financial supporters.

People

Steering Group

• Tim Freshney - Managing director of WJF Technical Support
• Tony Raynor - Managing director of Abbey Telecom
• Claire Smith - President of StayBlackpool
• Martin Long - Chair of Blackpool Leadership Group
• Philip Hargreaves - Chief executive of Lytham Green Investments
• Steve Pye - Former chairman of Lancashire TV
• Frank McLaughlin - Retired commercial director
• Babs Murphy - Chief executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
• Bernard Whittle - Former Lancashire County Council member
• John Kersey - Chairman of the Lancashire branch of the Institute of Directors
• Lee Petts - managing director of Remsol
• Rob Green - Independent governor of Edge Hill University
• Nick Campbell - Risk Manager at Inspired Energy PLC
• Peter Whitehead - Managing director of Whiteheads Solicitors

Contact

Address:

Website:

Twitter: @LancsForShale As of 8 January 2018 it had 627 followers.