Public back Labour’s move to ban fracking

LABOUR’S 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 held the consultation to gauge support for her Member’s Bill to outlaw the controversial gas extraction technique across Scotland.

A total of 1067 people 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 i nvestigating 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.

“The climate science is irrefutable. Scotland does not need a new fossil fuel as we shift towards a low-carbon economy. Most respondees argued that we should be focusing on the development of j obs in the renewables industries.

“Many are also concerned about the potential health implications of unconventional oil and gas extraction.”