SOUTH Western Energy’s geologist, Mr. Taylor, initially agreed to speak at the Forest of Dean Green Party’s event Fracking: The Big Green Debate.

Following SW Energy’s decision not to take up the licences in the Forest, Mr. Taylor, perhaps understandably, changed his mind.

We tried hard to find someone to speak in favour of fracking rather than cancel the debate.

We’d already drawn a blank in finding someone to sit alongside Mr. Taylor as neither our MP nor other local Conservatives were willing and able.

With the day of the debate looming, I opted to speak in favour of fracking, to put pressure on the anti-frackers to strengthen their points of view and make for a better debate.

Another Green Party member, geologist Chloe French, agreed to play ‘devil’s advocate’ too.

For me, speaking in favour of fracking at the event last Thursday was a useful challenge.

In any debate it is a valuable skill to be able to stand in the other’s position.

At times it did feel awkward because I am totally against fracking, both as a scientist and Green Party councillor.

In reality, there is no factual basis for fracking being either safe or necessary.

Regulation cannot safeguard against so many unknown risks and renewable energy, along with other recent developments, now only need the political will to be able to ‘plug the energy gap’.

However it was very easy to play ‘devil’s advocate’ at the debate and support fracking using government publications.

Basically the government line is that fracking will be rigorously controlled, that it can’t be proved that it will be damaging since no fracking has taken place yet (if you ignore the earth tremor caused by the only well drilled so far) and that there is an energy shortage that only fracking can fill (if you ignore the fact that renewable energy has been suppressed in favour of fracking and there are other technological solutions on offer).

There have been many reports commissioned by the government specifically to support fracking and all one has to do to sound authoritative and reassuring is to quote the government’s projections and assertions and challenge the opposition to prove otherwise.

– Cllr Chris McFarling, (Green), Forest of Dean District Council, Newland and St Briavels.