Council United In Opposition To Fracking

Bath and North East Somerset Councillors have tonight put political divisions aside to oppose the threat of fracking in the local area.

At tonight’s full Council meeting, Councillors from Bath and North East Somerset and 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 so-called ‘unconventional gas exploration’ on the unique Bath hot springs, the environment generally and the hydrological environment across the area. The adopted motion also calls for concerns to be registered with the Government by the Council and via our local MPs.

Councillor David Martin (Bathwick) seconded the motion on behalf of the Liberal Democrat group.

He said: “The Bath hot springs are a vital part of the city’s tourist economy generating almost £100M 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 with 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.”