No fracking in Rutherglen and Cambuslang
Rutherglen and Cambuslang have won a reprieve from fracking as it emerges both towns are thought to be rich in shale gas.
The Scottish Government confirmed this week that it would not support fracking in Scotland, effectively banning it from going ahead anywhere in the country.
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a highpressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.
Concerns about the impact fracking could have on health and the environment has seen the Scottish Government announce its opposition to the process.
The Reformer understands companies keen to explore the potential for fracking in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area submitted applications to the UK Oil and Gas Authority in 2015.
But these applications were halted when the power to grant licenses for drilling and exploration became devolved through the Scotland Bill and the Scottish Government called a two-year moratorium on fracking.
Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, said: “Many people in South Lanarkshire and across Scotland had deep concerns about the development of fracking, which is why the Scottish Government put in place a moratorium while the evidence was carefully examined.
“The Scottish Government has now undertaken one of the most far-reaching investigations into unconventional oil and gas of any government in the world.
“The judgement is now clear – we could not pursue fracking in confidence that it would not undermine public health or our climate change targets.
“And, importantly, the public consent in communities that would be affected simply isn’t there.
“I’m delighted that the Scottish Government are putting the interests of communities in Rutherglen and Cambuslang first.”
Detailed work by the British Geological Survey in recent years has made it clear where the richest reserves of shale gas are in central Scotland – a region well known for its substantial coalbeds.
Experts believed the areas most likely to be exploited for fracking were around east Glasgow and the northwest corner of South Lanarkshire, as well as North Lanarkshire, East and West Lothian and parts of Fife.
Brian Finlay, local Green Party co-ordinator and candidate in next month’s Rutherglen by-election, said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to indefinitely extend the moratorium on fracking as a step in the right direction.
“This is a victory for communities across Scotland and the wider green movement.
“The Scottish Government must commit to using a combination of powers over planning, environmental regulation and licensing to deliver a permanent ban.
“They must bring this back to the Scottish Parliament to be voted on after recess to prevent this moratorium being overturned at the stroke of a pen by a future administration.
“Future discussions are also needed around preventing shale gas coming into local refineries from the USA and such like to make the clear message that Scotland doesn’t approve of fracking.”