B&NES Councillors have put political divisions aside to oppose fracking.

At last Thursday's full Council Meeting, Councillors from Bath and North East Somerset, from all political parties supported a motion calling for the Council to take an in-depth look at the evidence and see what can be done.

Councillors expressed their concerns about the effect of 'unconventional gas exploration' on the unique Bath hot springs, the environment generally and the hydrological environment across the area. The adopted motion calls for concerns to be registered with Government by the Council and local MPs.

Councillor David Martin (Bathwick) seconded the motion on behalf of the Liberal Democrat group. He commented: "The Bath hot springs are a vital part of the city's tourist economy, generating almost £100 million per year. We need to protect them for today and for the benefit of future generations. I am pleased that the whole Council has joined together against any threat to this vital part of our natural heritage.

"Deep well shale gas exploration does pose a potentially serious threat to the hot springs and water supplies throughout B&NES. There is significant public concern about this threat.

"The Council has recognised these concerns and the motion that was passed this evening shows the commitment we have to control and, if appropriate, prevent, the use of unconventional gas exploration and extraction and geothermal exploitation within Bath and North East Somerset.

"Beyond the threat to the hot springs and local environment, unconventional gas is still a fossil fuel, use of which would generate greenhouse gases and delay our progress towards becoming a genuine low carbon economy. We need to continue to develop sustainable energy technologies in response to climate change."

Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Tim Warren, who presented the motion to Council, said: "We're really pleased that our motion gained cross-party support, with Councillors uniting to voice their concerns over the use of fracking and other new energy technologies here in B&NES. We hope this will strengthen the Council's hand in resisting any unwanted fracking applications in our area.

"We're in a unique position, not least because of the need to protect Bath's hot springs and other important local water supplies, but also because two-thirds of the area is greenbelt and we boast two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"As a result of the Council passing this motion, B&NES will now come back with a report on the potential impact and risks of fracking and other unconventional energy technologies on our area, as well as measures available to control their use locally."

Howard Hardman, of Paulton, has contacted The Journal commenting: "I was deeply disappointed last week to discover that the regular meetings of B&NES Council are not available on web cam, like meetings of the 'Cabinet'. On looking into the lack of web cam coverage, I am given to understand that the former Leader of the Conservative Group had refused to agree with the other leaders that there should be coverage of Council meetings.

"Local Government should be transparent and it is absurd that the public should not have easy access to full Council meetings by way of webcams in order to be assured about the performance of their representatives, and to scrutinizse the debate.

"The present Leaders of the four groups in B&NES Council should meet, as a matter of urgency, to reconsider the introduction of webcam coverage."