A TORY councillor made a very public call for Forest MP Mark Harper to back the campaign against drilling for gas in the Dean.

Kevin Wall, a Conservative member of Coleford Town Council, was speaking at a demonstration in the centre of the town opposing fracking and drilling for coalbed methane in the Forest.

A South Wales company has said it will make a test drill for coalbed methane in the eastern half of the Forest and has an option to explore for so-called ‘unconventional fuels’ in the western part of the Dean.

Around 100 people, many of them carrying anti-fracking placards, gathered at the clock tower in Coleford. It was one of 33 events across the UK on Sunday afternoon (January 31).

He said: “I don’t apologise for my politics I voted Conservative.

“I do apologise for the blight my party has inflicted on the Forest of Dean.

“This is wider than party politics – this is about looking forward to the future for our children and our children’s children.

“Whatever your political faction, we have a massive moral and ethical responsibility for what we do.

“Mark Harper as Chief Whip for this government needs to understand that he’s here because I put him there, because other Conservatives within this town put him there.

“Mark, I’m sorry but you need to step up and represent your constituents.

“There are many things I disagree about with people here but I care passionately about this town and I care passionately about this Forest.”

Cllr Wall said he was particularly concerned about the potential effects of drilling for gas on the Dean’s important tourism industry.

There is cross-party agreement in the Dean against the prospect of drilling with a motion to oppose it passed unanimously by the Conservative-controlled Forest of Dean District Council.

James Greenwood, who stood for the Green Party in the Forest at the General Election last year, told the Coleford gathering that the spirit of the campaign against the sell-off of the Forest needed to be rekindled.

He said: “Like the campaign against the sell off of the Forest, all the local parties have said they do not want fracking.

“We need to harness this and show national government we don’t want fracking here. Fracking makes no sense in the Forest.”

Cllr Di Martin, who is leader of the Labour group on the district council said: “We will work with anyone and everyone against fracking in the Forest of Dean.

“We don’t want fracking in the Forest – we don’t want it anywhere.”

The Review did approach Mr Harper’s office for a comment.

Previously he has pointed out that before any activity can take place permissions would be needed from Glou­cestershire County Council, the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.