Frack Free Somerset is organising a series of free public meetings in Mendip towns and villages this November to raise awareness of the increased likelihood of exploratory drilling in the area. The group is concerned that the recent extension of drilling licence, PEDL 227, by UK Methane means that an application to drill in the Norton Radstock area is imminent.
"UK Methane have already expressed an interest in drilling in a number of Mendip Parishes, including Ston Easton and Compton Martin. We believe it is important that local people know about this very real risk to their community. We will be showing a film that has been made specifically about the fracking threat to the Mendips during these meetings. We have been monitoring the fracking industry's activity in Somerset and worldwide and want to share what we have learned," said Frack Free Somerset Spokesperson, Helen Moore.
Drilling in PEDL 227 would be to extract Coal Bed Methane (CBM), methane found in coal seams, rather than shale gas, which has been the target of energy companies elsewhere in England. Fracking can be used to extract CBM and drilling is carried out at a shallower depth than for shale gas.
The public meetings are free and being held at Binegar Memorial Hall, BA3 4TR: Friday, 7th November, 1.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m., Chewton Mendip Village Hall, BA3 4NS: Tuesday, 11th November, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Chilcompton Village Hall, BA3 4EX: Tuesday, 11th November, 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m., Coleford Church Hall, BA3 5NG: Thursday, 20th November 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m., Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, BS39 6UD: Tuesday, 25th November 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m., Hinton Blewett Village Hall, BS39 5BA: Tuesday, 25th November 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Kilmersdon Village Hall, BA3 5TD: Tuesday, 18th November, 7.30 – 9.30 p.m., Midsomer Norton Town Hall, BA3 2HQ: Thursday, 27th November, 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m., Temple Cloud and Cameley Village Hall, BS39 5BD: Tuesday, 18th November, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., Radstock Victoria Hall, BA3 3QG: Monday, 10th November, 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.
Councillor Paul Crossley, the Leader of B&NES Council, spoke on Monday this week at the Shale Gas Environmental Summit in London of his concerns about fracking and how it could damage Bath's natural Hot Springs.
Independent research carried out by the British Geological Survey has concluded that extraction of unconventional gas within the zone of influence of the Hot Springs of Bath has the potential to damage the delicate fracture-led delivery system of the hot water. Cllr Crossley emphasised that B&NES Council is not opposed to the concept of shale gas extraction: "Our concern is wholly focussed on the potential damage to the Hot Springs and is backed by research findings.
"As such, we are not asking that Bath is made an exception in policy terms, but rather that a policy of pursuing shale gas extraction in appropriate areas recognises, that for technical reasons, it is wholly inappropriate to issue licences within the Bath Hot Springs catchment area."