A CAMPAIGN group looking to raise awareness of fracking and similar enterprises has arranged a public event to inform Wee County residents.

Clackmannanshire Against Unconventional Gas Extraction (CAUGE) will meet this evening (Wednesday) at the Bowmar Centre in Alloa to discuss the impact such a project would have on the local area.

According to the group, Clacks has already been identified as a possible site for a number of exploratory drilling operations.

The meeting was arranged in response to the news that Swiss chemicals company Ineos is to invest £640 million in shale gas exploration across the UK.

Janette McGowan, spokeswoman for CAUGE, has raised concerns over the damage fracking could pose to Clacks.

She said: “The whole of the Central Belt is up for grabs for gas and fracking exploration licences.

“This means areas of Clackmannanshire could be “fracked” along with neighbouring authorities Stirling, Falkirk and Airth, where exploratory drilling has already taken place.

“The potential of shale gas exploration and extraction could be devastating for Clackmannanshire, not only the impact on the environment and our water supply but also house prices and even house insurance.

“Some insurance companies have already stated they won’t provide home insurance for properties in gas exploration areas.” Speaking at the meeting will be professor Andrew Watterson, head of the occupational and environmental health research group, within the centre for public health and population health research at Stirling University.

He is followed by Walter Attwood of Friends of the Earth; Maria Montinaro from Falkirk Against Unconventional Gas Extraction; and Rowan Tunnicliffe from the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Green Party.

Mrs McGowan hopes a greater public awareness of gas extraction will give residents greater power to pre-empt any plans to frack in the area.

She said: “Local residents are encouraged to come along and find out how this could affect them and what measures can be taken to lobby our local councillors, MP’s and MSP’s to prevent this from happening before its too late.

“Some local councils have already refused to give planning permission for exploratory gas operations in their areas, the most recent being West Dunbartonshire Council.

“Hopefully, Clackmannanshire Council will follow suit if there is enough pressure raised from local constituents.”