Your readers may not be aware that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is currently consulting on fracking the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Indeed, the DECC appears to have done what it can to hide the fact that there is a consultation going on at all.

Fracking poses significant risks to human health and life – something the consultation neglects to mention.

DECC have not publicised the consultation well because they are trying to let this slip through, and issue licences for exploration before we have realised we are at risk.

This is the only consultation we will get before the DECC decides to make fracking licences available for sale.

On reading the consultation information, you could be forgiven for thinking the impact is mainly on bats and birds, not people.

Fracking creates a risk of earthquakes, as has already been demonstrated in Lancashire.

Fracking also carries the risk of poisoning the natural aquifers that provide our drinking water: something that would be disastrous for humans, animals and plants alike.

Whatever one’s views on how long we have until the world’s oil runs out, I can’t imagine any local residents would welcome hydraulic fracturing taking place directly under their homes.

I urge readers to view the official DECC consultation, available on the government website www.gov.uk and to submit a response making clear your opposition to fracking in this area.

For reference, the DECC divides the country into ‘blocks’ for which licences will be issued. The Forest covers DECC blocks SO50, SO51, SO60 (a & b) and SO61.

Resources about fracking are available at www.frack-off.org.uk and may be useful in framing a response.

Each response submitted makes the task faced by DECC more difficult.

Respond quickly, before the consultation closes on September 29.

– Dan Cook, Pillowell.