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A ban on drilling for gas, known as fracking, was lifted by the Government last month after being placed under moratorium in 2012 when it was linked to two earthquakes in Lancashire.

However, campaigners fear the region’s reputation may be at risk if companies are allowed to drill down into the Mendips in search of shale gas.

The restorative waters take between 900 and 1,000 years to flow from the Mendip Hills and feed the aptly named city of Wells and reach the spas of Bath.

We oppose drilling for gas because of the environmental implications and the potential damage to human health.

Fracking involves pumping a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into a well under high pressure to force gas from the rock.

The Government believes it may produce a new source of energy which could drive down household bills and boost Britain’s economic recovery.

Chancellor George Osborne will give details in the Budget on March 20 of tax breaks to encourage companies to invest in drilling for shale gas.

The battle to stop fracking in the Mendips suggests the practice may be more problematic in Britain than the United States where drilling takes place in the wide open spaces of mid-America.

Campaigners in the West Country have already fought off one application for exploratory drilling but fear it will be the first of many and want a blanket ban on fracking in the Mendip Hills.

Helen Moore, of the Frack Free Somerset group, said: “It’s shockingly irresponsible. We oppose drilling for gas because of the environmental implications and the potential damage to human health. We are gravely concerned.”

She warned that drilling could affect the area’s drinking water because of contamination of underground caverns and fears that fracking would “massively industrialise” the landscape because of the large amount of machinery needed to carry it out.

“I am all for exploring ways to keep the lights on, but we really don’t want to go down that route,” she said.

Lib Dem Tessa Munt, MP for Wells, warns that fracking is not “appropriate” for the area. She wants a clause in new legislation which would give central government ultimate say over a fracking application to be dropped.

The Growth and Infrastructure Bill would allow government to by-pass local decisions on major planning applications including shale gas fracking proposals.

Ms Munt said: “It is absolutly ridiculous pumping 540 chemicals into the ground with no plans for what would happen to a huge quantity of waste water after. My concern is water from the Mendips feeds all the villages around and everyone connected to it.

“The water they would be taking has been there for 900 to 1,000 years and we are going to be disturbing that.

“I do not think it is appropriate in such a closely populated country like we have in the UK.”

Energy Minister Edward Davey said communities would be “fully consulted” before any company was given planning approval. He said: “We have made it clear that the regulatory regime is strong and it will be strengthened if need be.

“We are still in the very early stages of shale gas exploration in the UK and it is likely to develop slowly. It is essential its development should not come at the expense of local communities or the environment. Fracking must be safe and the public must be confident it is safe.”