A DORSET group against fracking met with two other organisations in West Dorset to campaign against the process.

Frack Free Dorset, a community group based in Dorset who want to protect the local environment from fracking, joined West Dorset Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth in Lyme Regis recently to raise awareness of fracking.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks releasing the natural gas inside.

Local campaigner Mike Tunbridge said: “Licences to drill for Shale gas have been granted all over Dorset, so it is very worrying that we may see the countryside industrialised and our water polluted.”

The practice of fracking has been given the green light by the UK government and exploration licences have been issued for South and East Dorset but the companies must obtain planning permission from Dorset County Council before beginning any work. Back in January, more than 60 people came together in Dorchester to form the Frack Free Dorset Group.

The group aims to be a broad-based, non-political coalition of groups and individuals concerned about the possibility of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, coming to Dorset.

A spokesperson for Frack Free Dorset said: “Fracking is an extremely energy intensive, expensive way of producing gas.

“Dorset has access to many forms of renewable energy and is in a great position to attract investment and green jobs and to contribute to an independent, secure energy future for the UK.

“Burning shale gas will seriously undermine efforts to cut carbon emissions and to meet legally binding climate targets.”

For further information you can visit frackfreedorset.org, call 01305 250123 for visit the group’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FrackFreeDorset