WILDLIFE campaigners say the Forest and Wye Valley are too ‘environmentally-sensitive’ for potential fracking to take place.

Director of conservation at the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Dr Colin Colin Studholme says that while the government concludes the area might be suitable for exploring shale gas – if conditions are put in place to safeguard European sites of wildlife interest – he believes 25 cent of the UK’s lesser horseshoe bat population will be affected.

He said: “Conditions will be applied to fracking proposals to make sure that they do not impact on sites of European significance, but the European designation covering the bat interest in the Forest of Dean is flawed as it fails to adequately cover the underground caves on which the bats depend. When this is factored in the whole for the Forest of Dean becomes a no-go area for fracking.

“There are still considerable uncertainties about the potential disturbance levels creating by fracking, but evidence suggests it could be significant, including underground water pollution and flooding. 

“As the important wildlife habitat is underground and out of site we may not know if it has been damaged by fracking until it is too late. If there is ever a time to apply the ‘precautionary principle’ it is now.”

Local bat expert, David Priddis added: “Fracking in the Forest of Dean would be likely to impact on foraging, possibly commuting and almost certainly on hibernation requirements for horseshoe bats.  

“The suggested one kilometre buffer zone around the designated European site is totally inadequate. Underground vibration is likely to cause bats arousal from torpor, so could lead to mortalities if this happens several times during winter and there would be a risk of collapse of areas of some sites or even blockage of entrances. There is also likely to be toxic gas leakage into underground sites.”

The Review reported last month that hundreds of square kilometres of the Forest and south Herefordshire could potentially be opened up for exploration by the controversial method.

The Trust will submit its objection to the proposals by the consultation deadline of September 29. If anybody wishes to also object they can do so by visiting www.you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-fracking-mark-harper

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, September 17 at 6pm at the Speech House Hotel where a report commissioned by Green Euro MP Molly Scott-Cato, which claims all Gloucestershire’s energy needs could be met by renewables such as wind, tide and solar, will be launched.