Fracking could happen in parts of Cheshire after all, a council leader who previously ruled it out has said.
Michael Jones, the #Conservative leader of Cheshire East Council, said he would back plans to drill for #shale gas if the process is found to be “safe”.
Labour Councillor Sam Corcoran accused Mr Jones of making a U-turn, going back on “assurances” he gave last year.
The government last week awarded licenses for oil and gas exploration in Cheshire as part of a national policy.
The process of #fracking – where water, chemicals and sand are blasted at shale rocks to release the #gas trapped within – has proved deeply controversial in recent months.
Opponents have voiced concerns about earth tremors, water contamination and disruption to rural communities.
The industry, meanwhile, insists many of these fears are overblown, and that fracking can be carried out safely under the right regulations.
Source: Fracking: Cheshire East Council leader accused of U-turn – BBC News
