FRACKING in the Cotswolds could become a reality according to a Cirencester group which is fiercely opposing the controversial process.

Last month the government launched a consultation on plans to award 132 fracking licences including parts of the Forest of Dean, North Somerset and some areas near Bath.

And Frack Free Cotswolds thinks that this means that that fracking could be coming to the Cotswolds, an area identified by the Department of Energy and Climate Change as having a sufficient supply of shale gas deposits.

Chairman of the group, Dr Jonathan Whittaker, a Cirencester dentist, said: “These are areas bordering the Cotswolds and their inclusion reveals that those seeking unconventional gas resources are seriously intending to exploit the geology of our region. Do not be fooled into complacency into thinking that they haven’t actually declared interest in the Cotswolds by name yet.

“Like the Forest of Dean we have coal deposits beneath the surface. These have been left unused by agreement, yet their existence is acknowledged. Our geology suggest possible exploitation could be lucrative. Fracking is just one means to extract unconventional gas. Coal bed methane and coal gasification are also on the agenda. These processes are just as environmentally damaging and with coal gasification may even be more so The group is holding a meeting at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester on Tuesday, 22 September , starting at 7.30pm, to inform people about fracking in the region and climate change.

And Dr Whittaker urges anyone who wants to arrange a talk to help protect their communities from fracking to get in touch with the group.

He said: “Together we can resist this threat, but we have to be organised and diligent.”