Shropshire Star: Anti-fracking group calls for ban on gas drilling in Shropshire
Members of Frack Free Dudleston have made the call after claiming allowing Dart Energy to carry out exploratory drilling in the area could open the door for fracking to take place in the future.
Chris Hasketh, a spokesman for the campaign group, said he had made the bid to have a moratorium imposed and added he had also discussed the issue with Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow. He said there was precedent for a moratorium against exploratory drilling as one had been imposed by Cheshire East Council just across the Shropshire border
The Frack Free Dudleston Group, based in the village, was set up earlier this month to fight the plans put forward by Dart Energy. The firm has previously said a planning application could be submitted within weeks if Shropshire Council waives the need for an environmental impact assessment.
The proposals have outraged campaigners who say exploratory drilling for coal-bed methane gas could open the door for controversial fracking for shale gas in future years.