COUNCILLORS have voted to ‘strongly oppose’ fracking in the town.

Motions, from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, on the controversial issue were passed at the full council meeting on Monday after getting cross-party support.

It will see the council ‘strongly oppose’ fracking and associated activities – and do ‘everything possible within its powers and influence’ to oppose fracking everywhere in the borough and in surrounding areas.

Cllr Bob Barr, leader of the town’s Liberal Democrats, said: “This motion should not detain us for long as there now appears to be consensus among the political parties represented here that fracking should not go ahead in the United Kingdom.

“Our motion, and that of the Labour group, were triggered by the last Prime Minister’s, and members of her cabinet’s, decision to use the energy crisis as a pretext to renege on a manifesto commitment to ban fracking with a moratorium.

“As the current Prime Minister has reversed that decision and has promised to retain the moratorium, all members of the council should find themselves able to support this motion and it should need little discussion.

“I, like the leader of my party, approached fracking with an open mind so long as the promise of minimal environmental damage could be scientifically verified. It cannot be.”

Cllr Barr said fracking does cause earthquakes, which ‘while mild in scale cannot be reliably predicted’.

He also stated that fracking releases hydrocarbons, gas and shale oil which contribute to greenhouse gases and global warming when used.

He added: “Fracking operations are locally disruptive and can affect ground water permanently.

“There is no economic case for fracking as the amount of oil and gas produced in the UK would have virtually zero effect on global energy prices.

“When the facts change, I change my mind. They have changed.

“Fracking would breach both the council’s and the Government’s net zero commitments and would counter efforts to slow down global warming.”