FOREST campaigners say they are determined to stop test drilling for gas in the Dean.

The government announced the latest licences for “unconventional” fuel exploration just before Christmas and they include the Forest.

On Saturday (January 9) campaign group Frack Off Our Forest – FOOF – will host an information day at the West Dean Centre in Bream.

Owen Adams, of FOOF said : “We’ve had to start getting organised as just before Christmas it was announced the Government has granted licences for coalbed methane exploration and development in the Forest of Dean.”

The Dean was split into four 10km squares, and licences have been granted to Mr Gerwyn Williams of Bridgend-based South Western Energy.

South Western Energy has 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.

Although licences have been granted for test drilling, full-scale extraction of the gas would require permission from Gloucestershire County Council, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive.

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.

It has been described by campaigners as ‘the evil twin’ of fracking.

The Oil and Gas Authority, which issued the licences, says a firm commitment to activity must be completed in the first five years of the licence.

The optional “drill or drop” leaves the decision whether or not to drill with the company but if a well is to be drilled it also has to be completed within the first five years.

Mr Adams said: “Up to now the main focus of our campaign has been to persuade the government it would be a bad idea to grant licences.

“Now they have and the licence-holder, Gerwyn Williams of the Bridgend area and South Western Energy has made a “firm commitment” to drill at least one gas well in the Forest.

“We exist to ensure he can’t do that and we are determined to stop him.”

He added that FOOF hopes that other local organisations and individuals will also set up campaigns against drill­ing.

“It’s up to all of us to get organised in which­ever way we see fit.

“We at FOOF don’t see ourselves as any kind of command centre, just a hub for information, materials and social media.

“For example, business-people could take their own stand as they have done in Yorkshire against fracking, on the basis that it will harm tourism and local business.”

When Mr Williams gave evidence to MPs on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee he said gas could be extracted economically and would give “a huge boost” to the economy.

FOOF is holding the “community info and ideas exchange” at the West Dean Centre, in the centre of Bream on Saturday between 2pm and 7pm.