FRACKING can “release significant energy” county planning bosses have said in guidance to councillors.

But Oxfordshire County Council’s David Periam said the authority has to remain neutral as it makes decisions on the underground drilling process.

The development management team leader’s report will be discussed at a debate on the issue at County Hall on Tuesday.

It said: “There are conflicting views on its merits and uncertainties about its potential impacts. To those local communities which may be affected, it is undoubtedly a matter of great concern.

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“It is also the case that it has the potential to release significant energy when some other sources are diminishing. It is clearly not without risks.”

The debate comes after the end on Tuesday of the three-month period for companies to bid to Government to search for gas in Oxfordshire.

Hydraulic fracturing involves drilling into the ground and pumping water, sand and chemicals into rock to fracture it, releasing gas and oil.

More than 175 licenses for on-shore oil and gas exploration have been issued across the UK and gas searches are taking places in rounds. Oxfordshire is in the 14th round and a large part of South Oxfordshire, an area north of Oxford and a small area by Westwell, West Oxfordshire, in David Cameron’s Witney constituency, affected.

In June environmental protesters targeted the Prime Minister’s home in Dean, West Oxfordshire, over new powers to allow fracking under homes.

Protestors are also expected to gather outside County Hall for Tuesday’s debate at full council, which the public can attend, from 10am.

Labour councillor John Sanders, who called for the debate, said: “I believe that there are more lucrative sites at the moment than the ones in Oxfordshire.”

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