DRILLING for gas in the Forest and Wye Valley is a step closer to becoming a reality.

South Western Energy in Bridgend has successfully applied for two licences, known as PEDL (Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences) 318 and 319, to central government’s Oil and Gas Authority.

It means the government has approved the first step to possible exploration of coalbed methane across a zone which includes most of the Forest and the Wye Valley on the English side of the River Wye.

Campaign group Frack off our Forest (FOOF) say they are confident the “huge number” of Foresters that support them will stop it from happening – by any means necessary.

A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said that licences have been granted for test drilling, giving South Western Energy exclusive rights of exploration. Before any further work can take place, permission would be required from landowners, Gloucestershire County Council, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. Applicants would need to go through a rigorous process that could take at least three years to pass.

Cllr Nigel Moor (Con, Stow-om-the-Wold), Cabinet Member for fire, planning and infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “For any fracking to take place in Gloucestershire, a licence from central government and planning permission from the county council is needed. To date, the county council hasn’t received any planning applications for fracking in the Forest of Dean or anywhere in the county.”

South Western Energy made a ‘firm commitment’ for a test drilling in the blocks covering the eastern half of the Forest with the option for the other two areas.

Coalbed methane is a form of natural gas trapped in the structure of coal and is extracted by drilling down vertically and then horizontally. Water is removed to reduce the pressure on the coal, allowing the gas to be collected.

Owen Adams, from Frack off our Forest (FOOF), said: “It seems one of the first acts of Theresa May’s new government has been to give the green light for gas exploration in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley – against all common sense and logic.

“We have tried our best to persuade both the government and South Western Energy in face-to-face meetings and correspondence of the reasons why it’s such an unworkable idea, but they haven’t listened.

“We are determined not to let this happen, and we are confident the huge number of For­sters that are with us on this issue will help us stop it, by any means necessary. If the authorities want to prevent future direct action, the use of police resources and the dis-

ruption that comes with it, they need to work with us and the people to get these licences withdrawn and the threat removed.

“We hope that if people are inconvenienced by any future actions they will recognise it is the fault of the government and petroleum industry, and all we are doing is defending our beautiful home.”

FOOF has produced a number of factsheets which are available via the Frack Off Our Forest Facebook page.

The Review contacted South Western Energy but they failed to comment before we went to press.