TENSIONS ran high at a meeting of Warminster Town Council as the issue of fracking was brought up on the agenda.

Councillors Steve Dancey and Paul Macdonald put forward a motion proposing that “Warminster Town Council would like to put on record its view that ‘fracking’ in Warminster, where the drinking water supply is wholly dependent on ground water fed by aquifers underground, is unwelcome, risky and inappropriate”.

“It’s right and proper to discuss this matter,” said Cllr Dancey.

“If you look at the map that block is over the Warminster area and it’s almost as if we have been singled out for fracking.

“We’ve not heard that much in the defence of fracking but I think there is a case to answer for.”

More than 20 members of the public attended the meeting on Monday at the Civic Centre to object to fracking in the area, after the government announced 132 locations across the UK were being considered – four of which are in Wiltshire.

The motion was passed amidst applause from the public by a majority of seven votes to three and one abstention, with Cllrs George Jolley, Keith Humphries and Andrew Davis opposing it.

Cllr Humphries said: “I’ve been looking at this for a long time and looking at all the evidence from both sides and I think we need to take a step back.

“Everybody is passionate about the issue but this is too early and we need to gather some facts.”

Cllr Davis added: “I’d like it recorded I’m only voting against this as I’d like to see more information with the motion. I’m not saying I’m for or against fracking.”