LICENCES have been granted for energy companies to explore the fracking potential of more than 60 per cent of the English countryside. The Forest of Dean is no exception.

Already some parish councils are being surveyed for agreement in principle to receiving one-off payments (financial incentives) to allow fracking to take place beneath parish ground – what a responsibility when around 75 per cent of people polled are against this environmental vandalism.

In essence, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is drilling for gas hundreds of metres beneath our feet using huge quantities of water and toxic chemicals, to force the gas back up to the surface.

The energy used has been likened to three barrels of oil needed to get four barrels out.

But worst of all, the pollution of our aquifers, water courses and rivers Wye and Severn is a real and serious risk as many of the toxic chemicals dissolved in the water will permeate through the ground in time.

We don't know when these companies will begin drilling, or whether we will even be notified when they do.

We cannot know for sure what degree of irreversible pollution they will cause. What we do know is that the fracking companies will, of course, profit from the subsidies given to fossil fuels and those profits will not be seen locally even though we will have to live with the consequences.

Who will pay for the pollution when it occurs – yes, you've guessed it, we will.

Would you sign up to a fracking-free Forest? Your local Green Party has.

– Chris McFarling, Forest of Dean Green Party.