Anti-fracking pavement art draws in crowds

The campaigners believe structural damage would occur to properties, as well as pollution and water contamination, if fracking is allowed in East Dunbartonshire.

Local artists Tricia Durham and John Main created a ‘frack-quake’ pavement art outside the Kirkintilloch Regent Centre on April 1 - marking the fifth anniversary of the Blackpool ‘frack-quake’ when a magnitude 2.3 earthquake occurred, followed by a magnitude 1.5 tremor.

Ruth Dunster of Torrance Against Fracking said: “After the April 2011 earth tremors, work was halted at a frack field near Blackpool. Fracking firm Cuadrilla later admitted the quakes were most likely related to their operations.”

Ruth added: “The large natural gas reserves under most of East Dunbartonshire make it a prime site. The danger is not at the initial exploration and gas extraction phase, so things will seem fine at first - but the ground becomes unstable when waste water is ‘fracked’ back into the original underground workings.”

“We could expect structural damage to properties along with the serious issues of pollution and water contamination in this area.”

But supporters of fracking like Jim Ratcliffe of chemical giants Ineos insist it is safe and offers cheaper energy.

Dan McMahon of Kirky Against Fracking said: “I just can’t believe these companies want to do this here.”