"Vale Says NO" gives 6pm on Mon. 17th October, which follows a showing of the film Gasland at 3pm and is open to the public.
Peter Collins reported in the SW Echo 8th Oct.:
Councillors are to hold a special meeting of the Vale of Glamorgan’s economy and environment committee amid growing concerns over plans which could lead to a full-scale fracking operation at the Llandow Industrial Estate.
The Vale Says No campaign group have been invited to address the committee alongside Eden Energy and Coastal Oil and Gas, which has submitted plans to test drill for shale gas at Llandow.
Under planning regulations, the council’s planning committee will have to reach a decision on the plan by October 12 (untrue, and the deferral on 29 Sept. means they won't).
If the test drilling verifies the company’s estimates of the size of the shale gas reserve underneath South Wales, it could open the way for an application for a full-scale hydraulic fracturing operation, known as fracking, to extract the gas.
Pressure is also mounting on the Welsh Government and the UK Government to produce a framework to guide councils faced with planning applications for fracking, which has been accused in America of polluting water supplies.
The scrutiny committee has written to both governments, the Welsh Local Government Association and all Welsh MPs and AMs demanding action on a policy framework.
Environmental campaigner and councillor Rob Curtis said: “The potential discovery of a huge shale gas field below the South Wales coalfield means residents of the Vale need an evidence-based policy which will help protect their local environment.”
Vale council leader Gordon Kemp has called on the Welsh Government to deal with fracking applications given “the significant sensitivities” around applications.
He has called on the Welsh Government to take responsibility in planning matters relating to the exploration and exploitation of shale gas reserves and produce a national Welsh framework policy.
The Welsh Government said it would “welcome working with the UK Government on developing a framework for the whole of UK.”
Louise Evans, of the Vale Says No campaign, said: “I welcome the opportunity to address the committee on this important issue.”
Gerwyn Williams of Coastal Oil and Gas could not be contacted.
The Vale Says No campaign will hold a protest surgery at Cowbridge Town Hall starting at noon on 17th October (tbc).
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