Mendip Liberal Democrats are delighted that last night, at Mendip’s Full Council at Whitstone School in Shepton Mallet, a motion was unanimously passed regarding fracking.   This motion sets out the concerns of the council and seeks to provide safeguards to the district.  A joint motion between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives was agreed at the last minute after both groups submitted motions to the council on fracking.

After some excellent and spirited speeches from members of the public and informative presentations from officers of Mendip, Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset, councillors asked searching questions regarding caves, old coalfields and mining operations and possible implications should fracking be permitted.  The vote was then held and the motion was adopted unanimously.

This is the end of a period of hard work for Cllr Adam Boyden (Frome College), who had written the original Lib Dem motion and successfully negotiated a joint motion with the Conservative group.  Adam also took time to consult and involve concerned local people, geologists and in particular representatives from Frack Free Somerset and Gas Field Free Mendip.  There was the largest public participation at a Mendip council for a long time and everyone present was delighted with the joint motion.

Wells MP Tessa Munt said:

“I am delighted that Mendip District Council, with a motion initiated by the Lib Dem Group but with cross-party support, last night resolved to raise its concerns about ‘fracking’ with the Department for Energy & Climate Change.  I think we are all unified in our desire to protect the beautiful Mendip countryside and our vital water supplies.  There are many other ways to supply the energy we need using renewable sources.  We do not need ‘fracking’ here!”

Cllr Adam Boyden said:

“I am so pleased we all agreed that Mendip should lobby the government to seek to prevent fracking in Mendip and to demand detailed assessments of environmental risks and impacts when considering it, particularly when we heard of the real risks to our water supply, to the hot springs at Bath and to and complex geology that is unique to Mendip.”

For more information please contact Cllr Adam Boyden on 07809 284817 or on aomboyden@yahoo.co.uk.

See the wording of the final agreed joint motion here: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/09/20/mendip-district-council-meeting-fracking-motions-updates/

See the previous similar original Mendip Lib Dem motion here: http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/09/12/mendip-liberal-democrats-take-lead-on-fracking-in-mendip/

See the original Mendip Conservative motion here as item 15a: http://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/2733/Monday-30-September-2013 (and Lib Dem motion as 15b)