A move to ban fracking in Scotland has been backed by nearly 90% of the public in a new consultation. Scottish Labour’s environment spokeswoman Claudia Beamish conducted the survey to gauge support for her Member’s Bill to outlaw the controversial gas extraction technique across Scotland. Of the 1067 people who responded, 934 (87%) are in favour of a ban, while 12 (1%) were neutral, 114 (11%) were opposed and seven were unsure. More than one in nine people (95%) agreed fracking poses “too many risks relating to pollution of the earth, water and air, and increased seismic activity”, with only 4% disagreeing. Just 6% of consultation responses agreed fracking could stimulate the economy and create jobs, with 88% disagreeing. The Scottish Government brought in a moratorium in 2015 preventing hydraulic fracturing for shale oil and gas, and coal bed methane extraction, from taking place while investigating evidence on its potential impact. Ms Beamish said: “There is a loud and clear message from this consultation: the overwhelming majority do not want fracking in Scotland, and have raised profound concerns about the potential environmental impact if it is allowed.
STV 19th April 2017 read more »
Energy Voice 19th April 2017 read more »