Bath & North East Somerset Council’s opposition to fracking across the district has been reaffirmed, along with those of neighbouring authorities.

Fracking is a technique for retrieving gas and oil from shale rock
The local authority’s cabinet member for Planning and Licensing, Councillor Tim Ball reaffirmed the position following the recent announcement that a ban on fracking was to be lifted.
A motion agreed by Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2018 identified the potential impact of fracking and its capacity to affect the water flows for Bath’s precious hot springs.
Fracking could be catastrophic for the World Heritage City of Bath.
A Full Council meeting resolved to request the council leader to contact authorities which border Bath and North East Somerset to ask them to support the council in its opposition to fracking in our region.
Councillor Ball said: “The recent announcement by central government that it has lifted the ban on fracking put in place in 2019 is extremely concerning to the council and local residents.
“Bath & North East Council has a statutory duty under the County of Avon Act to protect the source of the hot springs in Bath.
“This in itself would be a significant reason for opposing fracking within our area. However, when added to other environmental risks and impacts – and our commitment to the use of green technologies to help us achieve our net-zero ambitions – the case against fracking in our own and neighbouring areas is clear and compelling.”
B&NES Council will now be writing to surrounding local authorities and MPs to reaffirm its position.