@emilyhstott

Residents are calling for the permission for fracking in Woodnesborough to be reconsidered amidst fears it could contaminate the water supply.

The application was approved in 2011, but since then Coastal Oil and Gas Ltd, which holds the license, has withdrawn its applications for exploratory drilling at Tilmanstone, Shepherdswell and Guston as it could not supply enough information on the safety of the water supply.

Di Jones, of New Street, Sandwich, has written a letter to Sandwich Town Council asking councillors to voice their concerns.

This was discussed at the meeting on Monday and councillors voted against Ms Jones’ proposal with the mayor claiming they would “look stupid” should they go back on their approval.

Ms Jones said: “It’s a matter of pomposity; this issue about whether or not we potentially pollute the environment is far bigger than their collective egos.”

This result was despite some councillors making a very strong case against fracking.

Cllr Paul Carter said: “We can’t let this happen unless we want to drink oil from our taps. There are water bore holes right next to the site – which supply water to Sandwich – and even for exploratory drilling they would have to do fracking to find out if there is any gas there in the first place.”

Cllr Susan Laslett agreed that more information was needed and Cllr Pip Russell said they needed to tell KCC they had changed their minds.

"This issue about whether or not we potentially pollute the environment is far bigger than their collective egos."- Di Jones, Sandwich resident.

She said: “I just think so much more information has come to light; it’s a lack of common sense to ignore this.”

Cllr Jeremy Watts said: “I understand people have their doubts about fracking, but the time to raise this again is if the company does exploratory drilling and then applies for actual drilling.

“It has been passed and once an application has been approved there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Ms Jones, 70, admitted that when she first heard about the application she had no idea what it meant.

She said: “I was one of the majority who saw an article in the Mercury about a meeting and thought I don’t know what that is and flicked to the next page. I feel absolutely guilty about it now. It was too much too fast.”

Ms Jones is also concerned about the historic buildings of Sandwich which she says could be damaged by ground movement caused by drilling.

She said: “I was very disappointed by the meeting. I’ve been here 35 years and I know most of the councillors. I expected better of my neighbours and friends.”