19 April 2016
Many thanks to all who joined us on 14th April for our What the Frack? event at the Cheese and Grain in Frome. The room was packed to hear Louise Somerville-Williams, of Frack Free Somerset, and Green Party district councillor Shane Collins explainwhat exactly fracking is, why it's a current threat to Somerset and Wiltshire and how we need to campaign against it now. Louise outlined the various different techniques which fall under the umbrella of 'fracking' and the way that the geology of an area dictates which particular techniques might be employed at different stages - and also how this complexity gives cover for companies to make misleading statements claiming that what they're doing is 'not really fracking'. But all of these forms of unconventional hydrocarbon extraction damage the environment, create huge health risks, industrialise the countryside and contribute to climate change.
In this area, there are four blocks which the government have licenced for fracking just east of Frome, and a further seven round the north Somerset coast. The company Southwestern Energy are highly likely to accept the licences east of Frome, although they have not yet done so - they may be delaying taking up the licences in order to avoid paying fees for as long as possible, perhaps while they do initial surveys of the area. Once they have the licences, and have identified potential sites, they will then seek landowners' permission to do exploratory drilling, and also put in a planning application with Wiltshire and Somerset county councils. This process may move quickly, and we need to be ready for it.
With the UK government determined in encourage fracking, we have few ways to stop fracking through official channels - many valid objections to fracking on health and environmental grounds are not allowable when responding to planning applications. Therefore the only way to stop fracking in Somerset and Wiltshire is to create a huge public campaign against this dirty industry, and show companies like Southwestern Energy that they will not be welcome here. Frome Town Council have already declared Frome to be a Frack Free Zone, and we hope that other town and parish councils will follow.
There are several meetings coming up to plan campaigns and to show films about the impact of fracking (see Upcoming Events). If you'd like to get involved in the campaign against fracking, please get in touch with Frome AntiFrack, Frack Free Somerset orKeep Wiltshire Frack Free, and check out Frack Off and Drill or Drop for lots more information. And keep watching this space - East Mendip Green Party and our Green councillors will continue to oppose and publicise all moves towards fracking.
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