Shropshire anti-fracking group hails stand by Scots

The group, Frack Free Dudleston, said the decision means all existing drilling or fracking applications will be refused and the Scottish government has promised a review before the pause is lifted.

It comes after Dart Energy demanded a decision after losing patience with Shropshire Council over plans to operate an exploratory borehole for coal bed methane extraction near Ellesmere.

A meeting of the council's north planning committee in October saw the decision delayed for more information.

Leader of Frack Free Dudleston, Chris Hesketh, said: "As we continue to prepare to fight the appeal, these wider events are very significant for our future here in Dudleston.

"Great news is that Scotland has now defied the UK Government and used its devolved powers to create a moratorium on all unconventional gas exploration.

"They intend to investigate fully the impacts of extraction on health, the environment and its effect too on communities, before allowing any further exploration by the gas companies. This is exactly what is needed for the rest of the UK."

The group is now waiting for the process of the Dudleston application appeal to begin.

The development in Scotland came as a report claimed that fracking is set to be banned on two-fifths of the land in England being offered for shale gas exploration by the Government. Fracking is likely to be prohibited in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, sites of special scientific interest and groundwater source protection zones.

A report from a committee of senior MPs sitting on the Environment Audit Committee (EAC), including former Conservative environment secretary Caroline Spelman, also called for a UK-wide delay after concluding fracking was incompatible with the nation's climate change targets and brought risks to health and the environment. But the proposal, last week, was defeated in the Commons.

Another development last week included planning officers in Lancashire recommended refusal of a multi-site application for drilling on the grounds of non-compliant noise levels.

Mr Hesketh said: "The EAC is a cross party group of MPs who published their report into fracking on the same day as all MPs were due to vote on the Infrastructure Bill.

"The EAC report highlighted the fact that fracking is incompatible with the UK's Climate Act commitments that limit the amount that we damage the environment.

"It also highlighted the fact that, contrary to statements about us having the best regulatory regime, there are three Government departments involved and little effective coordination."