A local pressure group, campaigning against fracking in the area, have expressed outrage that hydraulic fracturing has been given the go-ahead in Yorkshire, despite a great deal of objections from residents living in that area.

Frack Off Our Forest (FOOF) formed in August last year, after it was revealed that areas of the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean are under consideration for fracking. The group have passionately campaigned ever since to ensure that energy companies do not frack in the local area.

Last week, the news broke that North Yorkshire Councillors agreed fracking in the area. FOOF have evidently been angered and worried by this; if fracking has been allowed to go forward in Yorkshire, despite an overwhelming amount of objection, could the same thing happen in the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley?

In an e-newsletter, Owen Adams from the Frack Off Our Forest Group wrote:?“It may be more than 200 miles from us here in the Forest of Dean but the decision by North Yorkshire county councillors to give planning consent to the first fracking in the UK since the first, abortive, earth tremor-causing attempt in Lancashire in 2011, could have major repercussions on a national scale.”

Members of FOOF travelled up to Yorkshire before the fracking was given the green light. They attended to show solidarity and strength of feeling. They were joined by other groups campaigning against fracking, from all over the country. Owen said: “We joined a thousand demonstrators...What was remarkable was the powerful sense of unity between a huge diversity of people...On the road, almost every vehicle honked their support. The demonstration was very well natured and genteel.”

However, despite the presence of the campaigners, fracking was agreed. This decision will be challenged and fought by the Yorkshire campaigners, and FOOF have vowed to offer any support they can.

Closer to home, the group will continue to campaign to deter fracking in the area.