Last week the area’s decision makers unanimously backed councillor Jim Bollan’s motion to knock back permission from any companies who might seek to set up either exploratory or full fracking operations on council owned land.

It comes just days after concerned residents contacted the Reporter to voice their anger at claims the town was an area currently being considered for drilling and possible fracking — a process which sees water, sand and chemicals pumped deep underground in order to extract gas or oil.

However, after the council agreed to do its bit to block any hopes of energy companies targeting West Dunbartonshire councillor Bollan has hailed the decision and insisted the focus should be on renewable energy.

He told the Reporter: “I was delighted the council unanimously supported the anti-fracking motion.

“Fracking has already been outlawed in many parts of Europe due to the hidden dangers to public health given the extremely toxic materials used to blast shale rock with high pressured water.

“Real concerns of these toxic materials entering the food chain and drinking water necessitate fracking being completely banned in the UK. We should concentrate our efforts on becoming self sufficient in our energy needs in Scotland via renewable energy, wind and wave power, this could be achieved by 2030 with the appropriate levels of investment.” Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a controversial process used by some energy companies to uncover hard-to-reach fossil fuels by drilling down into the ground and then aiming a high pressure mixture at the earth to release minerals.

Supporters claim it makes it possible to unlock oil and gas reserves from places which traditional techniques couldn’t reach and say it reduces the reliance on foreign fuel and means residents benefit from cheaper energy bills.

However, critics of the process say it could have a negative impact on climate change, threaten the environment, release cancer causing chemicals into near-by water supplies and cause earth tremors.

Website wrongmove.org, which is backed by Greenpeace and set up to help people challenge fracking companies looking to operate in their communities, had claimed that both Dumbarton and Alexandria were areas which could be targeted by fracking companies.

And although last week’s decision by council bosses has allayed many fears some residents are still concerned.

One resident said: “What about the landowners? How do they govern private land. These people that own land or farms, many of them are struggling and could be tempted to sell off lots of land and who steps in then?

“As far as the law goes they’re entitled to do what they want with their own land.”