Exploratory drilling with a view to fracking for shale gas and oil will begin in Wiltshire if licences, which are soon to be applied for, are granted.
The designated areas are four sites between Trowbridge and Warminster. This process is harmful to human and animal health as well as devastating the landscape so there are many reasons why it should not be allowed to go ahead.
More than 500 toxic chemicals mix with vast amounts of fresh water forced under pressure to expand/crack the underlying rock. This operation poisons the air by releasing methane gas contaminated with radon gas which cannot be separated out.
It contaminates drinking water and poisons fish in the streams and rivers and tap water permeated with methane gas can ignite as it comes out of the tap.
Radon levels at US well-heads are 1,000 times more than the average UK indoor level. Waste water and slurry contaminated with carcinogens and radioactive substances eg radium are brought to the surface and stored in open pools.
In January 2014 Cuadrilla stopped fracking operations in Lancashire to apply for authorisation to dump radioactive waste water.
Drilling wells means more than 2,000 lorry journeys for each well and there are many wells for each gas area. No permission is needed if drilling has to go under your home. Wells are built close to housing developments causing house prices to drop dramatically while the surrounding countryside is turned into an industrial wasteland with drilling rigs, tankers and lorries breaking up road surfaces. It has been known for small earthquakes to be triggered.
In Pennsylvania bottled water has had to be supplied to replace contaminated drinking water. Fracking has resulted in complete degradation of the land, failing health of the population, homes that nobody will buy and people with no option but to leave everything and move away.
If compensation is paid it is with a gagging order so victims may not speak out. Neighbouring New York State has said No to Fracking.
We must not let this happen in Wiltshire.
Chris Sylvester, Chippenham Green Party
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