Controversial gas drilling plans for Shropshire to get public hearing

It had been thought the appeal would be held behind closed doors but the Government's Planning Inspectorate has said the application to drill a single coal-bed methane exploratory borehole in Dudleston, near Ellesmere, will be changed from written representations to be examined by a three-day public inquiry.

The date and venue has not been set yet but the Planning Inspectorate said they will shortly issue letters to main parties.

Last month members of Shropshire Council's north planning committee confirmed they would have turned down a bid to drill the borehole.

But the decision had already been taken out of the hands of councillors after applicants Dart Energy appealed to the Government's Planning Inspectorate to make a decision on the plans following a delay of several months.

Chris Hesketh, member of campaign group Frack Free Dudleston which is opposed to the scheme, said: "The reason for the upgrade is that they acknowledge the high level of public interest with huge numbers of individually written well researched planning objections, plus extensive press coverage.

"The unity and commitment shown by the people of this area has been quite amazing.

"We are delighted by this upgrade because this means that there will be a full examination of all evidence at a public hearing lasting at least three days.

"Since the original planning application we have continued to investigate and now have an even stronger case to present."

Dart Energy has insisted any work carried out would be on a small scale and would be carried out safely.

A spokesman for Dart Energy said: "We believe it is in everyone's best interests to have clarity on the application at the earliest opportunity.

"The comprehensive application was originally recommended for approval by the planning officers and no objections were raised by statutory consultees. "We will respond further to the Planning Inspectorate once we receive the full statement of case from Shropshire Council."

Peter Bond, of the Planning Inspectorate, said: "I can confirm that the case has changed to be examined by inquiry.

"With a change of procedure, the appeal gets restarted and third parties are notified.

"We consider the inquiry will be three or more sitting days and therefore the appeal will follow the bespoke inquiry process.

"Shortly we will invite the main parties to agree a bespoke programme which includes the date for the inquiry. Letters containing the details for this will be sent in due course."