The Sentinel: Stoke-on-Trent gas drilling project 'could cost £15m'

MILLIONS of pounds of taxpayers' cash could be spent on developing controversial gas drilling plans.

Members of Stoke-on-Trent City Council last night discussed the proposals to extract coal bed methane (CBM) to help local industry.

The meeting was held behind closed doors due to commercial sensitivity, but leaked figures suggest the Labour-run authority could be looking at spending up to £15 million on the project before any gas is extracted.

It is understood that councillors approved spending £600,000 on consultants to take the plans further – in addition to a £135,000 spend already approved by cabinet members.  MORE