WHITEHALL has granted a licence for gas exploration in the Forest of Dean to South Western Energy.

The Oil and Gas Authority has awarded 93 new licences to explore for oil and gas on 159 blocks of land in the UK including the Forest of Dean and Berkeley Vale.

Environmental campaigners fear this could allow hydraulic fracturing to take place in the Dean.However, before firms can begin fracking they have to submit to a series of safety and environmental checks as well acquiring planning permission.

This announcement follows a decision by the Government to allow hydraulic fracturing to take place under National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty such as the Wye Valley.

In October, The Forest of Dean District Council raised its concerns over fracking to the Government.

An anti-fracking motion was put forward to Gloucestershire County Council to deny any possible licenses from being granted on October 23.

However, the motion was brought down and sent to Shire Hall’s Environmental Committee to look into.

County Councillor Barry Kirby (Quedgeley, Lab) said: “We warned Council that this could happen, experts warned that this could happen, but the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives collectively put their fingers in their ears”

 “Through the Government allowing this licence to frack in the Forest it means that exploratory drilling could begin quite soon. We are disappointed that the Council didn’t take action when it could.”

Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom said: “Last month we set out the vital role gas will play in the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future. "The licences offered today move us a step closer - driving forwards this industry which will provide secure, home grown energy to hardworking families and businesses for decades to come.“Alongside conventional drilling sites, we need to get shale gas moving. "As the Task Force for Shale Gas report found earlier this week, with the right standards in place fracking can take place safely. "Now is the time to press ahead and get exploration underway so that we can determine how much shale gas there is and how much we can use.”Earlier this year, more than 300 campaigners gathered near Speech House on Saturday to protest against gas extraction in the area.

The protest march around was followed by a number of speeches by supporters of the newly formed Frack Off Our Forest (FOOF) group.