THE frontline of shale gas extraction in England moved to Cheshire on Tuesday, January 15, with the beginning of a public inquiry into shale gas flow testing in Ellesmere Port at Chester Town Hall.
Local residents, supported by frack-free groups from across the country, will gather outside the town hall to highlight the continued and overwhelming opposition to fracking in the UK.
Cheshire West and Chester council last year rejected plans from oil and gas company IGas to test for shale gas at a wellsite in Ellesmere Port, following thousands of objections from the public. The public inquiry is being held after IGas appealed against the decision.
The inquiry is significant for the future of shale gas development in the North West.
Although several shale gas wells have been drilled in Cheshire, Ellesmere Port would be the first flow test site in the county if permission to go ahead was granted.
The inquiry is scheduled to last for six days.
Helen Rimmer, Friends of the Earth North West.
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