Planning officers back Shropshire gas test drill bid despite fears
Controversial plans to drill for gas in north Shropshire have been recommended for approval by planning officers.
Despite more than 500 letters of objection, Shropshire Council has been advised to grant permission for Dart Energy's application to operate an exploratory borehole for coal bed methane in Dudleston Heath near Ellesmere.
The recommendation comes ahead of a special meeting next Friday which will see Shropshire Council's north planning committee make its decision.
Planning officer Tim Rogers said that the local impact of the drilling could be "minimised".
He said: "Whilst it is apparent from the number of objections made by local residents that there is significant concern over the proposals, no specific issues have been raised by any statutory consultees which cannot be addressed through the imposition of planning conditions to control and regulate the operation.
"It is not considered that proposed temporary operations would have an unacceptable impact on the local area, or raise other land-use issues which cannot be addressed through planning conditions."
Chris Hesketh, spokesman for action group Frack-Free Dudleston, which has been campaigning against the plans, said he was not surprised by the recommendation.
"But it is not the planning officer's decision, it is in the hands of the planning committee," he said. "We have got some robust planning reasons for the council to choose not to follow the decision."
Mr Rogers' report noted that there had been 535 letters of objection, one letter of support, four general comments and a 239-name petition against the plan.
The meeting is at 2.30pm on Wednesday at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.
