Published in the Portsmouth News on 10th June 2014
THE local authority which covers large parts of the South Downs has said it is satisfied that fracking is safe.
But the comments by Councillor Melissa Maynard, East Hampshire District Council’s environment spokeswoman, have been met with anger from environmentalists.
Cllr Maynard was responding to the findings of the British Geological Survey, which found there was virtually no shale gas but up to 8bn barrels of shale oil in the Weald Basin – which includes parts of East Hampshire and West Sussex.
It means there is the potential to make money by using fracking to remove the oil.
Campaigners believe the exploration process is unsafe.
Cllr Maynard says in principle they would support that exploration – although it is not the planning authority.
That is the responsibility of the county council and South Downs National Park Authority.
Continue reading Council supports controversial fracking for oil
Follow Havant FOE