News broke last week that areas in the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean are under consideration for fracking. This caused outrage amongst local residents, and an action group formed, to try to block any fracking plans, before it is too late.

Near to Ross, these villages include: Llangrove, Whitchurch, Welsh Newton, Ganarew, Goodrich, Welsh Bicknor, Symonds Yat, and Kerne Bridge, among several other local settlements would fall inside a licence block boundary, outlined in plans on a government website. Nearby larger towns, such as Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth, would fall under the ten kilometre potential zone of impact.

In the Forest of Dean, areas around Lydbrook, Coleford, English Bicknor, Christchurch, Berry Hill Staunton, Redbrook, Clearwell, St Briavels and Brockweir, would also be included in one of these licence block boundaries.

Chris Morgan is a local man, who runs a local Facebook group, Ross-on-Wye Town Crier. Chris shared the news about the fracking plans, to make other local people aware. He told the Ross Gazette: “This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with SSI (Special Scientific Interest) status, why and how can a Government rape the countryside?”

Some action groups have already formed, as a backlash to the news about the potential fracking. Drew Pratten, a member of the Frack Off Our For- est group spoke to the Ross Gazette. Drew said that although he has been on board with several envi- ronmental campaigns, the Frack Off Our Forest campaign is one of the fastest growing he’s experienced.

Drew explained that he is astonished that the area is being considered for fracking, considering it’s an area of natural beauty, and the forest has a heritage of mining history. He also pointed out that there are several fault lines too. “It all seems ludicrous to us.” Drew told the Ross Gazette.

For the full report, see this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette.