There has been another mindboggling intervention in the battle to prevent Dart Energy's attempts to bring some much-needed economic good cheer to central Scotland. This time, Friends of the Earth seem to have been able to place an article in the local paper, the Stirling Observer, and it bears all the hallmarks of their usual standards of 'accuracy' and 'integrity'.
An energy company with controversial plans to extract gas from deep underground has a licence to drill under Wallace Monument.
Friends of the Earth are calling on residents to declare Stirling an “unconventional gas free zone” to prevent coal-bed methane extraction in any part of the city.
Dart Energy is at the centre of a public inquiry over its plans for 22 new bore holes at a site in Airth, where it has already carried out some work.
The article goes on to say that 'not enough is known about the risks of disturbing potentially toxic water and gases from deep underground, which could seep into the soil and water table, and also lead to climate change'.
Erm, except that coalbed methane has been exploited for decades and the US is producing near 2 trillion cubic feet per year. And there is already a UK site in commercial production. With no apparent problems.
No wonder the local media is on its last legs.