Winchester City Council has reaffirmed its opposition to fracking. 

Green Party member Cllr Malcolm Wallace brought the motion to civic chiefs. 

Cllr Wallace said: “As part of our climate emergency response, this council is committed to a just energy transition and to ambitious investments in the green infrastructure and industries that will create jobs and rapidly decarbonise our economy.

“The construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure and expanded reliance on fossil fuels exposes our communities to untenable risks to public health and safety at the local and global levels, whilst failing to provide relief to those struggling with fuel bills as the tiny contribution such activity would make to the world market would not affect prices. The economic opportunities presented by a clean energy transition far outweigh the opportunities presented by an economy supported by expanding fossil fuel use and extraction.

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“Therefore, this council resolves to oppose as a matter of council policy any initiatives to develop fracking for shale gas.

“And to respond to the consultation to the County Council’s refreshed Minerals and Waste Plan stating our opposition to the extraction of oil and gas, our opposition to the continuing potential for further licences for extraction and re-affirming our opposition to the process of fracking to obtain gas and oil in Hampshire.” 

The motion was debated at the full council meeting on January 18.

Cllr Hannah Williams said: “Fracking is an absolute travesty. We need to move forward with green energy.”

Cllr Stephen Godfrey, who represents Wonston and Micheldever, said: “In my ward, residents rely on oil and gas to heat their homes. So I cannot support this motion.”

Despite this, the council agreed to pass the motion.