FRACKING would not be permitted without public support in Shropshire, the council's leader has insisted. 

The UK Government has lifted a ban on fracking in England, potentially opening up parts of north Shropshire to controversial new shale gas sites.

In 2014, there were plans to introduce fracking in Duddleston before they were scrapped in the face of furious opposition from local residents.

Councillor Lezley Picton was asked by Cllr David Vasmer if the unitary authority would oppose fracking alongside residents in the county.

Cllr Picton claimed the government said it must be clear local support must exist and that fracking should not come at the expense of local people and landscapes.

She added: "There is no doubt that we need to secure different types and sources of energy.

"However it is also clear that this need to enable significant changes to the energy market cannot be at the expense of local communities nor protected landscapes.

"There are places across the country which support efforts to explore for shale gas, and it has been made very clear by the government that local support must exist and be proven."

Cllr Picton added the unitary authority would back residents and applications would be considered as with any other application.

She added: "As far as I am aware, in Shropshire, our communities do not support it and we will back our residents.

"If we do receive any applications for fracking, they will be considered on their individual merits and assessed against relevant law, national and local policies and all material considerations, as is the case with any planning application, and the matter of public support will be paramount."

Chris Hesketh was part of the group, Frack Free Duddleston, which opposed plans for fracking in 2014 and he has opposed recent plans for fracking.

Speaking earlier this year, Mr Hesketh Government was not releasing a report from the British Geological Society on the impacts of fracking.

"The British Geological Society was asked to do a report on this," he added.

"Interestingly, the Government is refusing to release its report, which kind of suggests it says something it does not want to hear.

"They have sat on it for months and months and now they go with this announcement and still not releasing the report.

"The fact that they don't want us to see it kind of suggests it doesn't say what they would consider to be good news."