Frack off - you're not welcome here

COUNCILLORS' FIRM MESSAGE TO SHALE GAS DEVELOPERS

- By JOHN GREENWOOD

FRACKING is not welcome here - that's the message from councillors to anyone looking to develop shale gas in Calderdale.

With a current moratorium on fracking introduced by the last Conservative government not covering fracking using low fluid volumes, drillers had found a way to do this.

And applications were now being submitted for a variety of sites across the north to explore shale gas supplies, said Coun Martin Hey (Green, Northowram and Shelf).

"It's clear that any area with a mining heritage could be at risk. In Calderdale this includes a large area of land on the east side of the borough in particular - from Shibden to Northowram, through Shelf and Norwood Green and all the way to Clifton.

"All these areas are vulnerable," he told councillors in proposing a successful motion passed by the full council to stand against fracking.