More than 64 per cent of Brits reluctant to buy property near fracking sites
More than 64 per cent of Britons would not buy a home located near to a fracking site, according to new research released today.
The OnePoll survey conducted by House Extension Online, which involved 1,000 respondents, also showed 21 per cent were somewhat unlikely to consider buying a home near a fracking site, while 43 per cent stated they were unlikely to do so.
Read more: Will shale be the game-changer for the UK it's been for the US?
But 32 per cent said they were in favour of fracking if it led to lower energy bills. Nevertheless, this sentiment was almost matched by 31 per cent of respondents who stated they were against fracking even if it resulted in cheaper energy prices.
Fracking, which involves drilling deep and then shooting a high-pressure water mix into rocks to release the gas inside, is a controversial process which critics claim contaminates the local water supply and causes earthquakes.
But supporters say a domestic shale gas industry could improve the UK's energy security, while boosting local economies and creating jobs. Meanwhile, some studies have suggested that the dangers of fracking have been overestimated.
Read more: First US shale gas shipment arrives in the UK as fracking debate rages
Communities secretary, Sajid Javid, recently gave the go-ahead to one of two fracking schemes in Lancashire in a landmark ruling.
He overruled an earlier decision from Lancashire County Council and approved plans for fracking firm Cuadrilla Resources to both monitor and explore for shale gas at a site in Preston New Road.