A STORM has blown up over the future of Hilbre Island after former deputy Prime Minister and climate change advisor John Prescott called on Esther McVey to “come clean” on Tory plans for industrialised gas and oil production.

Lord Prescott joined campaigners on West Kirby beach where he called on Esther McVey – who he described as a “very tough girl” - to “come clean” on Tory plans for underground coal gasification (UCG) in the Dee Estuary.

He told members of Save Hilbre Island and the Dee Estuary group that the Tories “can’t be trusted” and said that only a Labour government could save the Dee from drilling.

But Ms McVey, who is defending her Wirral West seat on May 7, told the Globe Labour was using “smear tactics”.

She said: “Two Jags has some cheek coming to Wirral, dipping his toes in the Dee and telling me to ‘come clean’ over UCG.”

UCG is one of the three main methods of unconventional gas extraction.

The process involves using similar horizontal drilling technology used for other “fracking” techniques in order to get oxygen into the coal bed to allow the seam to be set on fire.

By controlling the amount of oxygen in the steam, it is then possible to partially burn the coal and bring the gases produced to the surface where they can be burned to produce energy.

Lord Prescott later made his way through West Kirby – and posed for selfies with young voters – before being interviewed by Globe reporter Emma Rigby at Hannah’s tea room.

“The Tories can’t be trusted on the Wirral and they can’t be trusted in the Dee Estuary,” said Lord Prescott.

Fears for the future of West Wirral coastal areas were first raised after the awarding of a licence for UCG exploratory operations in the estuary.

Cluff Natural Resources holds five licences – including for the Dee area – which are the first steps on the way towards permission for UCG operations across the UK.

But while the permit covers 6,900 hectares of the waterway, Hilbre Islands are within the Dee Estuary Special Area of Conservation and Dee Estuary Special Protection Area – a network of protected sites stretching across Europe.

Wirral Globe:
Wirral West hopeful Margaret Greenwood with Lord Prescott and campaigners at West Kirby beach. Picture: Paul Heaps

But the island was dropped from a list of 31 proposed Marine Conservation Zones by the Tory government in November 2013.

Lord Prescott said: “You have to ask the question why is that being done in that way? It does raise questions. If your concern is the environment, to get the balance between the environment and energy, why are you doing the first step which is anti environment?”

Today's visit had been arranged by Labour's parliamentary candidate for West Wirral, Margaret Greenwood.

She told the Globe: “The Dee Estuary and Hilbre Island are beautiful. Here West Kirby has got a beautiful beach which people really enjoy taking their children to.

“Hilbre is popular with bird watchers - it’s internationally renowned for its birds. It’s a very special and magical place.”

Wirral Globe:

Lord Prescott launched the campaign group’s document “Top 5 Tory Fails on UCG in the Dee Estuary” today and watched as campaigners formed a “Hands across the Dee” human chain on West Kirby beach.

He said: “Esther McVey isn’t fooling anyone with the leaflets she has been putting out in Wirral West.

“The licence was granted by the Conservative government in 2013 and it was granted to Cluff, a Tory donor and former Tory candidate.”

Wirral Council’s leader Cllr Phil Davies was also part of today’s campaign at West Kirby and said as long as he remained leader of the authority – which owns Hilbre Island - UCG and fracking will not be supported.

Despite this, Lord Prescott and Margaret Greenwood fear that such a decision could be overruled by the Government.

Lord Prescott added: “It is clear for everyone to see, only the Labour candidates and their campaigns on both sides of the estuary will save the Dee from drilling.”

Employment minister Esther McVey said: “Two Jags has some cheek coming to Wirral, dipping his toes in the Dee and telling me to ‘come clean’ over UCG.

"He was deputy Prime Minister when £11 million was given in taxpayers money by Labour to develop UCG and it was his new best buddy, Ed Miliband who, when Energy Secretary, granted a licence for UCG in Liverpool Bay.

"This is classic Labour smear tactics which, as usual, are designed to hoodwink the voters. They are so ashamed of their own record that they have resorted to misleading people about mine."