FEARS that Teignbridge Council had been pumping money into fracking companies

were quashed this week.

Worried councillor John Nutley wanted to know if the authority had invested cash in

businesses extracting oil and gas from the ground.

He also asked council leader Jeremy Christophers if he thought supporting

the production and use of fossil fuels met Teignbridge’s aims of fighting climate change.

Cllr Christophers declared the council did not invest in companies ‘directly’ involved in fracking.

He also said he ‘was not aware’ of any investments in businesses ‘linked’ to the

controversial process.

However, Cllr Christophers added: ‘We pay monies to Peninsular pensions in relation to our pension scheme.

‘They decide where this money is invested in order to make a return to pay pension

liabilities.

‘They would invest in companies on the stock market but I wouldn’t know whether those companies are involved in fracking.’

Cllr Nutley, who represents Ashburton, told Monday’s full council meeting that he would like Cllr Christophers to find out more about the companies Peninsula

invests in.

The leader agreed to investigate further and reassured members that fracking would not take place anywhere in the district because Teignbridge lacks shale.