Rathlin Energy Denies Any Wrong Doings With Regard To Public Meetings

Rathlin Energy has responded to claims they have been holding secret meetings with selected people from the local community.

Their response follows claims by HEY Frack Off after they turned up to a meeting due to be held at Bishop Burton Village Hall by Crawberry Hill Community Liaison Committee.

On arrival along with some members of local community who turned up hoping to have some of their concerns addressed, they were surprised to discover the venue locked and closed.

Richard Howarth said;

“Rathlin holds private ‘community’ meetings for a handful of locals, but the committee has turned down recent requests from both a local farmer and myself to join. They wouldn’t even let me in order to observe in silence.”

A spokesman for Rathlin Energy said;

“What Mr. Howarth fails to mention is that we have already met with him, and we have also held meetings with local representatives from Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Shan Oakes attended a presentation given by our Chairman recently, and he addressed her questions.”

“We have no intention whatsoever of meeting with a group of people from outside the area, who are causing problems at our sites and are against something that we are not doing. These people seem intent on preventing us from going about our lawful business as has been seen recently. They have made their point, but they are making it with the wrong company.”

Green Party member Shan Oakes said;

“We turned up to the venue armed only with information and a promise not to disrupt the meeting, but Rathlin took the extraordinary step of switching to a secret venue at the last minute- they’re hiding from members of the community with perfectly reasonable questions.”

She added;

“It’s like they’re afraid we might ask awkward questions that could reveal what’s really going on.”

Rathlin however, insist the venue was changed with the consent of the locals who represent their community, they said;

“The venue was changed on Tuesday – a joint decision by Rathlin and people who live locally who represent the local community interest. None of us wanted the meeting disrupted.”

“The people who attend were chosen by the community to ask questions and give feedback following our four public consultation meetings, which more than 250 people attended when we first announced our plans.”

“Those plans and what we are delivering today have not changed. In addition to this, we have now held 25 community liaison meetings, several site visits, and we have distributed more than 20,000 leaflets to local residents to update them on our work and the next steps. In two years, except for Mr. Howarth, no one has turned up at these community liaison meetings unannounced.”

“If any local residents have any questions or concerns, or if they would like to speak to us or their local representatives, they are very welcome to do so. Contact details are on our website and can be accessed via relevant parish councils. This has always been the case.”

HEY Frack Off said

“We yet again repeat our call for Rathlin to hold a public meeting to address the very real concerns of local people. Rathlin will say they’ve held numerous public events.”

“They have had only 4 around 2011/12 They were happy to hold public meetings when hardly anyone knew about them. The 24 liaison meetings they refer to are, in fact, held in private, and dissenting views are excluded.”