Council to consider allowing fracking in Shropshire
Fracking could take place in Shropshire in future years if economic benefits outweigh environmental concerns, according to a Shropshire Council report released today.
The council admits there could be interest in parts of the county such as north Shropshire for fracking, or hydraulic fracturing for shale gas.
Leaders say objections raised by the public to any application to drill in the county would be given a fair hearing – but so would potential benefits such as a boost to the economy.
The issue of hydrocarbon gas exploration in the county will be discussed by Shropshire Council at a meeting in Shirehall on Thursday.
It comes as a planning application has been submitted to the council to drill a temporary coal-bed methane exploration borehole on land north west of The Brooklands, Dudleston, near Ellesmere.
It has outraged campaigners who say exploratory drilling for coal-bed methane gas could open the door for controversial fracking for shale gas in future years.
In a report to Thursday's meeting, Andy Evans, head of economic growth and prosperity for the council, said: "There are currently no planning applications for shale gas in Shropshire and no proposals.
"However, the possibility of future interest in localised areas of the county, mainly in north Shropshire, cannot be discounted.
"In the event that future planning applications for frackingare received the planning system will allow these to be dealt with in an appropriate manner.
"Any such proposals would be subject to a full consultation process.
"The concerns of objectors would be gratefully assessed as part of this process, whilst at the same time taking account of the potential benefits, including to the national and local economy and in terms of energy security."
Campaign group Frack Free Dudleston has been set up in light of the plans for the coal-bed methane(CBM) exploration borehole in Dudleston.
Spokesman Chris Hesketh said: "Doing a massively polluting and disruptive test drill in an area that has no prospect of actually producing gas makes no sense at all.
"If we can get some common sense protection in place now then it will save other people from a lot of worry and hassle."
