Meeting plans to fight fracking

Members of the Rotherham Green Party will join anti-fracking groups at Centenary Hall in Hellaby at 1pm on Saturday after plans were outlined for controversial fracking —hydraulic fracturing — to take place under large area of the borough.

Rotherham Green Party leader Ann Roche said: “Fracking is a huge concern for the people of Rotherham.

“Plans are in motion to turn our region into the fracking capital of the UK and this has been done without consulting local residents.”

Fracking, in which subterranean explosions are used to release gas, is already used in other countries but conservationists fear long-term damage to the environment and residents’ health.

Plans to drill in specific areas would have to be approved by Rotherham Borough Council but licenses for preliminary exploration have already been granted.

Saturday’s meeting is open to the public.