A PUBLIC meeting is being held at Backwell School to discuss the controversial drilling method fracking.

Speakers from the scientific advisor to the national campaign group Frack Off as well as local campaign group Frack Free Somerset will be speaking at the event on February 19.

People will be able to ask questions about the drilling method and learn about the effects it can have on nearby communities.

The meeting has been organised by Sustainable Backwell in response to recent planning applications to frack in Somerset.

Backwell is very close to an area covered by a petroleum exploration and development licence.

Anne Watts, from Frack Free Somerset, said: “We want every single person living in an area at risk of unconventional gas developments to be fully informed about fracking and coal bed methane extraction.

“Communities in the United States and Australia are working tirelessly to stop coal seam gas drilling while contending all of the negative impacts on their health, land and communities.

“We have an option in Somerset to prevent it from starting in the first place.”

Hydraulic fracturing is a method of extracting gas in shale rock.

Huge amounts of water mixed with toxic chemicals are forced into the ground at high pressure, a large proportion of which are never recovered.

UK Methane recently announced it will shortly be applying for planning permission to drill for shale gas using hydraulic fracturing in Somerset.

Residents can find out more about the practice at the meeting, which runs from 7-9pm.