West Somerset Labour Party has responded to the prospect of fracking for gas by organising a public meeting to try to spark a well-informed debate. Licences were issued by the government at the end of last years which would allow fracking in areas along the Somerset coast from Blue Anchor to Clevedon.
Fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into rocks underground and collecting the gas or oil trapped within them. Should we see fracking it as a threat to the environment? Or as an economic benefit?
Frackland
To try to find out, Labour has invited a leading expert on fracking, Dr James Verdon of Bristol University , to speak at a public meeting in Washford. Dr Verdon is a geophysicist who has carried out independent research at two fracking sites in Lancashire.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. (doors open 6.30) on Thursday March 10th at Washford Memorial Hall.
James Verdon’s Frackland website here.