A CONTROVERSIAL vote which will open the way for fracking companies to drill under areas of natural beauty such as Salisbury Plain, the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs is expected to take place soon in the House of Commons.

The vote comes after a government U-turn when Energy Minister Amber Rudd said there would be an outright ban on fracking in “national parks, sites of special interest and areas of national beauty”.

Kate Blagojevic, from Greenpeace, said: “The Department for the Environment has said that drilling can take place under National Parks, as well as in groundwater protection zones, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty, and World Heritage Sites.

“The proposed regulations say that as long as fracking takes place below 1,200 metres, it will be allowed, which could see these areas ringed by fracking rigs, and affected by light, air and noise pollution from lorries, generators and flaring.

“SSSIs such as the Salisbury Plain are given no protection at all by the regulations, which could mean that fracking can take place directly from the surface.

“There will be a full vote in the House of Commons but no debate.

“We are saying these regulations are just not enough protection for what are our most beautiful and fragile areas and ecosystems in England.”

At the end of August an unknown company applied for licences to drill in four areas in central Wiltshire, one of which includes Codford.

The news has sparked fears that water supplies will be contaminated if the controversial process is allowed to go ahead.

Becky Martin, a campaigner with Keep Wiltshire Frack Free, said: “They shouldn’t be doing it anywhere near these places.

“If they are drilling underneath they will be close to the areas of natural beauty and it means these will be surrounded by drill pads.”