Southampton Labour MP, Alan Whitehead, an energy expert, will address a public meeting on fracking in Romsey later this month.

Drilling for shale gas is a controversial issue as highlighted by the protest at Balcombe in West Sussex. Gas companies have been awarded eight licences in the south of Hampshire, including areas north of Southampton stretching east from North Baddesley to the A3051 at Fairthorne and north of Winchester, from Kings Worthy west almost to Stockbridge.

The new technology – formally known as hydraulic fracturing – involves blasting underground rock deposits with water, to release trapped pockets of gas.

The alarm has been raised over groundwater contamination and toxic air around sites. In Lancashire, fracking was blamed for causing small earthquake The meeting has been organised by Friends of the Earth and Romsey Labour Party, whose spokesperson Sandra Smith said: “The argument is favour of fracking is that it will produce energy at lower prices. Against is the fear by local people that the drilling will cause pollution as envisaged by the population and environmentalists in Sussex and even earthquakes, as witnessed in Blackpool.”

Mr Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, is on the Commons Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change and is chairman of the Sustainable Energy Group.

The meeting takes place at the Town Hall on Friday, October 18, at 7.30pm. Admission is free.