Call to ban 'fracking' in Hampshire

The main opposition party want the ruling Tories to forbid fracking on council land and oppose it in all parts of the county.

Newly-elected councillors will vote on the proposal at a meeting of the full council tomorrow (May 23), the first since elections earlier this month.

Fracking involves blasting underground rock deposits with water to release trapped pockets of gas.

The Liberal Democrat proposal comes after the Conservative-run council voted for a ban on wind farms on council land.

Councillor Andrew Carew, Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, said: “We wish to send a loud and clear message to the government and the people of Hampshire that controversial plans to ‘frack’ for potential shale gas are unacceptable.”

The fracking debate has heated up across the country. According to the Liberal Democrats, the south coast and South Downs, including most of Hampshire, could be targeted. Exploratory drilling for shale oil and gas starts in West Sussex next month.

In the US, where the shale gas industry is up and running, supporters say it has brought down the price of gas by three quarters.

But objectors say it is environmental destruction. Concerns include groundwater contamination and toxic air around drilling sites. In Lancashire, it has been linked with earthquakes.

Councillor Carew said: “Concerns about fracking are impossible to ignore. It has already been banned in France and there is an increasing lobby saying it should be banned in Britain as well.

“Liberal Democrats say the county council should lead by example by declaring a ‘no fracking policy’ in Hampshire.

Liberal Democrat leader Keith House said: “It will be interesting to see how the other parties vote on this issue. UKIP nationally are in favour of fracking.

The Conservatives are opposed to wind turbines on county land, we will see if they are equally concerned about the environmentally damaging effects of fracking in Hampshire.”