Fracking could take place on land south-east of Basingstoke

Gas companies have been handed drilling licences across the country, including for a patch of land covering South Warnborough and Herriard and stretching down as far as Bentley.

The revelations come as the Government is set to announce new tax breaks for shale gas and financial incentives to tempt communities to accept fracking.

The new technology – hydraulic fracturing – is controversial because it involves drilling thousands of feet underground and then pumping in pressurised water and chemicals to crack the rocks below and release trapped gas.

It is strongly opposed by green campaigners and Liberal Democrat county councillors in Hampshire. They say it could potentially contaminate groundwater supplies, increase dependence on fossil fuels and even cause small earthquakes.

Supporters say it could bring down fuel bills, pump millions of pounds into the local economy and create jobs.

Greenpeace, the environmental group, has mapped areas covered by licences issued by the Depart-ment for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). These include the South Warnborough land in addition to land north of Winchester and northern Southampton, including Eastleigh.

It is unlikely that all the sites would be fracked. The licences allow drilling to see if there is the potential for shale gas extraction. Oil companies would then have to apply to the county council for planning permission for extraction.

Liberal Democrat county councillors failed two weeks ago in a bid to force a vote on making Hampshire a fracking-free zone.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Adam Carew told the Conservative administration: “We know you are opposed to wind farms. I think the people of Hampshire have a right to know where you stand on fracking as well.”

But council leader Roy Perry said a ban would prejudice future planning applications.

As minerals and waste authority, the county decides planning applications for oil and gas development, but not wind farms, which are decided by district councils.

If permission were refused, oil companies could appeal for government planning inspectors to overturn the ban.

The issue of fracking is to be debated by the county council’s environmental select committee.