A LEADING Ledbury councillor has poured scorn on the news that Eastnor has been identified as a possible fracking site.

The village was named last week as one of three in Herefordshire which could release shale gas using the controversial method.

A planned fracking site in Sussex has been the focus of national media attention recently with hundreds of protesters campaigning against the scheme going ahead.

Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping large volumes of water, sand and chemicals undergroundat high pressure to fracture the rock and release potentially large sourcesof shalegas.

However, some environmental groups fear it will lead to earthquakes and pollution of water sources and are campaigning vociferously against plans to carry out the technique.

And the idea has not gone down well in Herefordshire either with political group It’s Our County voicing its anger.

“I’m appalled at the suggestion of prospecting in the Ledbury locality,” said IOC’s deputy leader Coun Liz Harvey, who lives in Ledbury. “Any attention given to shale gas and fracking right now is diverting time and money away from actions which will provide immediate energy savings to everyone.”

The other two villages earmarked for fracking are Much Marcle, also near Ledbury, and Fownhope.

Herefordshire councillor Russell B Hamilton, cabinet member for environment, housing and planning, said full planning permission would need to be obtained due to the depths required to prospect for natural shale gas and none have been received so far.