AS the first shipment of shale gas arrived in Scotland for processing, Fife Council’s Depute Leader has called for more clarity on the Scottish Government's approach to all potential unconventional gas exploration and exploitation.

The ship carrying the gas arrived at Grangemouth this week but the council, having voted against fracking of any sort in the county, wants direction on the Scottish Government's stance.

Councillor Lesley Laird, Fife Council’s Depute Leader & spokesperson for Economy & Planning, said: “When the moratoriums were confirmed, the Scottish Government indicated that there would be extensive stakeholder engagement, across a number of themes, designed to establish an evidence-based approach to dealing with the matter of unconventional gas and fracking as well as determining the Scottish Government's position on whether or not these technologies should be allowed in Scotland.

“Fife Council passed a motion in May this year opposing all fracking and any Unconventional Gas Extraction in Fife.

"We should now be heading toward the end of the initial review period and the report-back phase, as outlined in the Scottish Government's timetable for the review which was published when the moratoriums were announced".

Councillor Laird added: “As Fife is one of the local authority areas likely to be most impacted by unconventional energy, we want to make sure that elected representatives, local communities and businesses are fully engaged in decisions that will shape their local area.

"We want to ensure that the processes are in place to make the best decisions possible for the people living and working around the Firth of Forth, preserve the local environment and support local democracy.”

Cllr Laird has written to Mr Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy for clarification on: the extent of Fife Council/Fife communities' participation in the review process to date;

how Fife Council and Fife's communities will play into the review going forward; confirmation of the timetable, and the proposed methodology, of the consultation process; and confirmation of a final reporting date on the evidence gathered and analysed, and a date for the announcement of a final Scottish Government decision on whether Fracking and Unconventional Gas Extraction (including Underground Coal Gasification) will be allowed in Scotland.