In case anyone was in any doubt that yesterday's debate at the full meeting of Salford Council was about whether to ban fracking or not, both proposers of a motion on unconventional gas and local democracy made it absolutely clear that it was not.
The motion put to councillors merely "expresses concern that exploiting new sources of fossil fuel, including unconventional gas, undermines the commitments to reduce carbon emissions to mitigate climate change and diverts resources away from investment in a safe and secure renewable energy future".
Proposer and Lead Member for Planning, Concillor Derek Antrobus said "I'm not saying in this resolution - and the Council should not say - that fracking is de facto unsafe because that would prejudice our ability as a planning authority to deal with such issues and that would be absolutely ludicrous."
And the motion's seconder, Councillor Rob Sharpe, added "Some people have asked for the Council to go further and ban fracking outright, but I believe in giving people a fair hearing...but in giving a fair hearing means making decisions in Salford, with those decision makers being held accountable for their decisions to local people."
Both Preston Council and Bury Council have already banned fracking on their land. With the watered down Salford motion, even the Tories gave it their support...
"I think this debate is really about 'let's be careful, let's look at the options, let's make sure that we make the decisions'" said Conservative Councillor Robin Garrido "Until we've got all the facts and figures, until we've looked at every scheme, let's not fall into the trap of using this debate as 'for' or 'anti' fracking. I don't regard it as being 'for' or 'anti' today and that's why I will be voting for the motion."
Councillors did speak out against fracking but stopped well short of a ban. Councillor Adrian Brocklehurst pointed to the three hundred miles of mine workings and underground canals before explaining that "I see fracking as a geological and environmental hazard and think it is fundamentally unsafe."
Councillor Jim King added that he was a long time opponent of fracking and, calling for more investment in alternative renewable energy sources, said that "fracking doesn't help the health of the nation; if you read about what's happened in the United States in terms of poisoning of the water sources...there are lots of arguments against fracking. There is a better way to go..."
One thing that all councillors agreed on was that the decision on fracking should remain with the local planning authority, having witnessed the Government overrule councils in Lancashire that tried to stop shale gas drilling.
"It is important that the local community has a say in that decision, it's the local planning authority that looks at the evidence and makes the decision" said Councillor Antrobus "The argument is not to say that fracking as a technique is either good or bad but that the decision should be made locally based on the evidence that's presented to us."
The motion was passed unanimously.
Frack Free Greater Manchester "welcomed the debate and the motion which recognises that fracking undermines efforts to tackle climate change, and commits to supporting local renewable energy, although it falls short of the Mayor of Greater Manchester's 'presumption of opposition to fracking'"
And Salford resident Helena Coates, on behalf of Frack Free Greater Manchester, added: "As a member of both Frack Free Greater Manchester and the Labour Party, I am pleased that Salford Council has passed this motion. It is also right that Salford Council stands up for itself against central government, who have shown that they have no respect for the decisions made by local authorities.
"We hope the planning department and Councillors can find the strength they need to stand up for us when it matters, and follow the plans laid out in the Labour Party manifesto to build an alternative infrastructure that takes us away from the carbon economy" she added.
For full background see previous Salford Star article: Fracking motion falls short of a ban as drilling could start in Salford in four years – click here
Photo of Barton Moss protest by Steven Speed