An Alliance councillor says people in Antrim and Newtownabbey were ‘betrayed’ by their DUP MP’s vote against a UK fracking ban.
It comes after Paul Girvan, who represents South Antrim, sided with the Conservatives in a recent Westminster vote on the Labour proposal.
While new PM Rishi Sunak has since backtracked on Liz Truss’ decision to greenlight fracking in England and Wales, Jay Burbank told us he wanted to ensure Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s position is clear.
Read more: Fracking 'never discussed at a party officer level' in DUP, says Poots
His motion to council, supporting a moratorium and eventual ban on oil and gas exploration or extraction in Northern Ireland, passed without dissent on Monday night.
Jay said Alliance, SDLP and Sinn Fein councillors spoke on the issue, but the DUP and UPP refrained.
“They just waved it through and didn’t speak about it,” he added.
“I feared an amendment where they would try and neuter the language or try and water it down... but there was none of it. It was very interesting.
“Part of what motivated me to bring this is that our MP [Paul Girvan] essentially betrayed us so deeply.
“Communities want reps that are going to fight for the environment and especially not be drawn into this temptation that any gas or oil in Northern Ireland could have an effect on the local market.
“We know it wouldn’t drive down prices - it would just be a short, quick buck for oil companies.”
The motion acknowledged former DUP Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons’ recommendation the “Executive agree a preferred policy option of a moratorium on all forms of exploration and extraction of oil and gas, to be followed by the introduction of a legislative ban”.
Councillors voted to support the preferred policy option he tabled in February but was never greenlit by the Executive as DUP First Minister Paul Givan resigned before they could vote.
That meant no decision was made on petroleum licence applications from Tamboran Resources UK for access to shale-filled Fermanagh with the potential for fracking, and EHA exploration to look for oil and gas in Tyrone, Armagh, Lisburn and Belfast.
Jay raised concerns that if any future Economy Minister waved through the oil and gas licences “the council wouldn’t be able to stop this because of the Petroleum Act... which gives them a lot of power”.
“It’s worrying for local communities,” he added.
“A full ban on the extraction of oil and gas was a commitment made by the Economy Minister and then for our member of Parliament to use his vote to not support that at Westminster is a complete about-face.
“Those communities that would be affected around the Lough Neagh basin, they’ll feel very betrayed by his decision.
“If it [a ban] is good enough for the Northern Ireland Assembly, why is it not good enough for the only functioning legislature that has jurisdiction over us when Stormont isn’t functioning?” he asked.
“At least now the council has a corporate position and can’t go back on that if it is consulted [on] by a future Economy Minister.”
Antrim and Newtownabbey council also agreed to oppose “hydraulic fracturing [fracking], which if practised in our borough would have significant implications on residents and the natural environment”.
The DUP has been contacted for comment.
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