Shropshire Star

Anti-fracking campaigners to go head to head with energy bosses

Published

Anti-fracking campaigners and energy bosses will come face to face when they debate exploratory drilling for gas in the county.

Campaign group Frack Free Dudleston has been at loggerheads with Dart Energy after it submitted a planning application for a temporary coal-bed methane (CBM) exploration borehole near Ellesmere.

Frack Free Dudleston was set up in May and claims allowing Dart Energy to carry out exploratory drilling in the area could open the door for fracking to take place in the future.

Fracking is a highly controversial method of extracting underground gas by using high pressure jets of water.

Supporters say it can lead to a dramatic falls in energy bills, but critics say it is harmful to the environment.

Dart Energy has always denied it has any plans to use fracking for shale gas in the county, even though north Shropshire sits on both coal and shale deposits.

Dart Energy says is is only interested in coal-bed methane.

But the Shropshire Star can exclusively reveal that plans are afoot to bring campaigners and energy bosses face to face to discuss the issue in a public debate.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire councillor for St Martins, said: "There is going to be a debate, but at the moment most people are on holiday.

"But I am going to get a debate with Frack Free Dudleston, Dart Energy, who have said they will attend, and Shropshire councillors.

"I do not have a date yet but it will happen and will probably be held in the Shirehall.

"I think to have this debate will be beneficial for fact finding on both sides, because there are two sides to every argument.

"While I am not in favour of the gas exploration personally, I do think it would be incredibly helpful to hear both sides of the debate properly."

Campaigners have said they are keen to have the debate as soon as possible.

A decision on the exploration borehole will be made in the near future.

Chris Hasketh, spokesman for Frack Free Dudleston, said: "We have been promised a head to head public debate.

"It can only be a good thing for Shropshire, to have ourselves, the council, and someone form the industry to discuss the issue properly.

"I will sit and listen to what they have to say, but f they can persuade me then I would be very surprised.

"We would like to have this debate as soon as possible, but a date has still to be decided."

Nearly 500 objections have been made against controversial plans to drill for gas near Ellesmere.

Residents, who are concerned about the impact the scheme on land north west of The Brooklands in Dudleston will have on their homes, have objected forcefully.

Peter Reilly, a spokesman for Dart Energy, insists that once the 60-day temporary period is up the site will be restored to its former condition.

A decision is not expected on the Dudleston application until mid September.

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