Campaigners call on council to reject fracking plans
Green campaigners have called on Shropshire Council to throw out plans to drill for gas in the county.
Dart Energy, the company behind the application, hopes to find methane in coal that would be extracted from the site, north west of The Brooklands, Dudleston, near Ellesmere.
But the plans have proved controversial, with fears of pollution, noise and an impact on the local community at Dudleston Heath, where the borehole will be.
Last night the Shrewsbury and North Shropshire Green Party and Frack Free Dudleston held a meeting to explain the plans to concerned residents.
They are calling on Shropshire Council to reject the proposal, which has been recommended for approval by planning officers.
Chris Hesketh, spokesman for Frack Free Dudleston, told the meeting an energy crisis is imminent and solutions are needed.
"Solar and wind energies are much better solutions and ones the government should be focused on," he said.
"There have been over 500 objections to this planning application so councillors need to listen. It is a relevant issue for us."
He feared the application cold pave the way for fracking - the highly-controversial process of blasting high-pressure jets of water deep underground to extract shale gas from rock.
Dart Energy has insisted it has no plans for fracking at the site, even though north Shropshire sits on both coal and shale.
The company says it is currently interested in coal-bed methane only.
Mr Hesketh told the meeting, at the at Big Red's House, High Street, Whitchurch, "Fracking creates disastrous consequences for housing prices in areas it takes place and damages people's health."
He went on to tell the meeting that nowhere in Shropshire has been recommended for coal bed methane extraction because of the unsuitable porous rocks the region lies on.
He said: "It is an insane idea."
Shropshire Council's north planning committee will make their decision at a special meeting in Shirehall, Shrewsbury on Friday (October 24) at 2.30pm
"Friday is a key moment for Shropshire," Mr Hesketh added.
"The more people who attend the better. We are hoping around 100 people will attend to show this application is not wanted in North Shropshire."
See also: Shropshire campaigners hit back in row over gas drilling plan.
