CONSERVATIVE Rutherglen councillor Jared Wark blasted the SNP government for failing to allow fracking, despite clear advice it could be done safely and bring huge economic benefits to communities.

Cllr Wark told local paper The Reformer: "I am disappointed the SNP government has closed-off something that could bring significant benefits to Rutherglen. It is a short-sighted and economically damaging decision made to appease the green side of the pro-independence movement.

"According to the Scottish Government’s own scientists the extraction of shale from Scotland, with the right safety checks, could be done safely. It could support thousands of jobs and deliver economic benefits to communities including Rutherglen.

"With the struggles the North Sea is facing, there could hardly be a better time to be getting on with this. Instead, the Scottish Government is killing this off while other parts of the world press ahead with fracking."

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