LIBERAL Democrat county councillors are calling for a total ban on a controversial gas extraction process in Hampshire.

The main opposition party wants the ruling Conservatives to forbid “fracking” on council land, and to oppose it in all parts of the county.

Newly-elected councillors will vote on the proposal at a meeting of the full council on Thursday, the first since elections earlier this month.

Fracking involves blasting underground rock deposits with water to release trapped pockets of gas.

The Liberal Democrat proposal comes after the Conservative-run council voted for a ban on wind farms on council land.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Councillor Andrew Carew said: “We wish to send a clear message to the Government that plans to “frack” for potential shale gas are unacceptable.”

According to the Liberal Democrats, the south coast and South Downs, including most of Hampshire, could be targeted. Exploratory drilling for shale oil and gas starts in West Sussex next month.

In the United States, where the shale gas industry is up and running, supporters say it has brought down the price of gas by three-quarters. But objectors say it is environmental destruction. Concerns include groundwater contamination.

Cllr Carew said: “Concerns about fracking are impossible to ignore. It has already been banned in France and there is an increasing lobby saying it should be banned in Britain.”

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Keith House said: “It will be interesting to see how the other parties vote. UKIP nationally are in favour of fracking. The Conservatives are opposed to wind turbines on county land. We will see if they are equally concerned about the environmentally damaging effects of fracking in Hampshire.”