Frack Off Llanelli

By Gareth Cornfield

Last night, 14th August, was the inaugural meeting of the Frack Off Llanelli group. It was a lively meeting with approximately 100 people attending, from as far afield as Laugharne, Carmarthen, Llandeilo & the Gower.

Present were councillors and Assembly Members, including Peter Black, Lib. Dem. The agenda was to develop organisational ideas. There was an update on progress since the last meeting. There are approximately 1800 members of the Facebook page. These are from all over the county & indeed the country, showing their support.

Paul Jennings led the meeting with his customary tact and self-effacement. He has visited another group, in Bridgend. The feeling is that there needs to be a Wales wide response to the proposals to test drill to assess the suitability of an area for Fracking/Coalbed Methane Extraction or Underground Coal Gasification.

The name “Frack Off Llanelli” could be “No Extreme Energy Production Facilities in or around the Llanelli Area” unfortunately, it does not trip off the tongue.

Fracking is something that people have at least heard about, even if it is the tip of a very large, environmentally damaging, iceberg.

Extreme Energy is where the effort expended is small in comparison to the benefit.

Communities in New South Wales, Australia, were able to stop the process by adopting a Close the Gates strategy. They surveyed residents and were able to present the findings to the developers & council to show the majority of residents were opposed. This proved so successful that at least one of the companies has relocated to the UK!

In Somerset is the “Frack Free Somerset” group, http://www.frackfreesomerset.org/, who are doing sterling work. Others fall under the banner of “Gas Field Free”. A very informative video to watch is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz2mq5GYnR0. Dr Marian Lloyd-Smith presents a literate assessment of Fracking & Underground Coal Gasification. I would recommend that you look into these as they provide a very good overview of what is happening and what is being proposed.

It was agreed that there needs to be a broad, cross-party & cross ideology coalition. The decision was made not to have a committee, but have a community response. This may be seen as a non-traditional approach, but it seems to work elsewhere. Attendees were able to identify others from their particular area of Llanelli & surrounding district so as to set up smaller groups that would better be able to address the needs & concerns of their area.

There is a company that has been granted a license to test drill in the Loughor Estuary. They have not yet been granted Planning Permission. There is, however, a license & planning permission that has been granted in Penllegaer. It is worrying that the Government is trying to loosen planning laws.

All residents are asked to be aware of these issues so that a consensus can be reached.