Bleadon at Risk of Fracking Again

Fracking Licences in Bleadon

Gas map only. All power production here

"The prime minister said lifting the moratorium, brought in by the Conservatives, will enable developers to seek planning permission for fracking and get gas flowing in as soon as six months"

UPDATE 22JAN24: BOB and BPC make a Local Plan submissions re: fracking.

UPDATE APR23: "At the April 2023 annual residents meeting it was raised that there was, “Concern regarding Bleadon’s Frack-free status in regard to any changes to NSC’s new Local Plan” 

UPDATE 14 SEP 22: Bleadon at Risk of Fracking Again (see blog)

UPDATE 13 APR 22: Distrrict Cllr Porter following APM, "I raised the issue of Fracking at last nights council meeting, and it was confirmed that a motion to continually ban fracking in North Somerset will come forward to council. This position is fully supported, and the portfolio holder has agreed to our consultation on this motion to Council.."

UPDATE 11 APR 22: BPC Draft APM Mins (pg2) & Amendments and BOB Draft APM Mins

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"Fracking is a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock by drilling into the earth. It was banned in England in 2019 after new research raised fresh fears over the risk of earthquakes."

In 2018/19 at least two Bleadon residents on Roman Road received fracking related oil and gas exploration survey letters. Concerns were raised in relation to the Bleadon fracking licences due to Hinkley Power Station being just across the water, and potential water pollution due to Bleadon being situated on interconnected limestone caves (see Bleadon Public Fracking meeting on 11 June 2019).  

At this year's Annual Parish Meeting (APM) on 11 April 22, BOB raised concerns regarding BPC's lack of comment on North Somerset Council's Local Plan Consultation, especially in relation to Minerals/Fracking. Five months on, the minutes of this public meeting are still unpublished by BPC, but it did subsequently call an extra-ordinary meeting to discuss the Local Plan Consultation where BOB presented an overview and resident feedback it had received.

Also, at the April APM meeting BOB asked Cllr Porter for reassurance that North Somerset Council would continue to support residents' objection to fracking in the area. Following the meeting Cllr Porter responded,

"I raised the issue of Fracking at last nights council meeting, and it was confirmed that a motion to continually ban fracking in North Somerset will come forward to council. This position is fully supported, and the portfolio holder has agreed to our consultation on this motion to Council." (13APR22)

"Liz Truss has announced the ban on fracking will be lifted as part of plans to accelerate the UK's domestic energy supply..."Far from being dependent on the global energy market and the actions of malign actors, we will make sure that the UK is a net energy exporter by 2040," she said." (Article and PDF)

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See also:

• Bleadon Under Threat
• BOB's Fracking page
• BOB's Global page

• CPRE 08SEP22 - Lifting the ban on fracking ‘a hideous mistake’, we say (PDF)
• E63: Europe’s electricity market: the scam of the century?
• UK Lifts Ban on Shale Gas Fracking in Push to Boost Fuel Supply
• Cuadrill Founder (21SEP22 PDF)
• Energy lifeline as Truss’ fracking ban lift sees firm rush for permit
• NSC Energy Minerals Topic Paper June 2013
• NSC Climate Emergency Strategic Action Plan (PDF) stating "Pass a motion declaring North Somerset a Frack Free Zone to discourage the exploration and production of shale gas". (Appendix Climate Emergency Progress Report