NEW licences have been given out by the government this week to frack for shale oil and gas and our Forest of Dean is one of the locations chosen.

I am a  Green Party  district councillor so you can be certain I will resist this. But I’m a parent too and forgive me if I’m worried about my son’s future. 

Fracking threatens not only the tranquillity of his Forest through an increase in lorry traffic but also works by pumping harmful chemicals, such as lead, uranium and mercury into the ground.

The government is increasing subsidies for fracking though it will cause more environmental damage even than oil and gas.

But polluted ground and a ruined forest aside, climate change really is the most urgent threat to my son’s future.

Wind energy is renewable and not at all harmful but the government is removing its subsidies.

Why is it doing that and promoting fracking?

It is their children’s future in the Forest they are risking as well as all of ours, or perhaps those who will profit from fracking don’t plan on their children living in the Forest of Dean or Britain? 

What does your local councillor think? Please contact them and find out their views. This is our Forest, we have the right to say no to fracking.

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