Kenneth Gibson MSP has welcomed the SNP Government’s announcement that fracking will be banned across Scotland.
The SNP Government previously announced a moratorium while it ran a public consultation and examined evidence over health and public safety.
The consultation was the second largest ever run by the SNP Government, receiving 60,535 valid responses, of which 99% were opposed to fracking.
Commenting, Kenneth Gibson said:
“People in North Ayrshire and across Scotland had and have deep concerns about the development of fracking, which is why the SNP Government put in place a moratorium while the evidence was carefully examined.
“We have now undertaken one of the most far reaching investigations into unconventional oil and gas of any government in the world.
“The judgement is now clear – we could not pursue fracking in confidence that it would not undermine public health or our climate change targets. Importantly public consent in communities that would be affected simply isn't there.
“I'm delighted that the SNP Government is putting the interests of communities and people first." Friends of the Earth Scotland's Head of Campaigns, Mary Church, added:
"This is a victory for the environment and for local communities fighting fracking.
"The SNP Government's decision to ban fracking will be warmly welcomed across the country. "Having put a moratorium in place more than two years ago, evaluated the evidence and consulted the people of Scotland, the SNP Government has reached the right and sensible conclusion that the fracking industry must be banned to avoid potentially devastating impacts to people's health, the climate and our natural environment." Dr Sam Gardner, acting director of WWF Scotland, said:
"It's excellent news the SNP Government has listened to the thousands of people, campaigners, and politicians across the country who have been calling for a permanent ban to fracking."
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