THERE could be no “fun, frolics and fracking” on Somerset’s coast as a ban for the whole area moves closer.

The government announced in 2015 that seven new licence areas for shale gas exploration and extraction would be created along the Somerset coast, stretching from Minehead to Clevedon.

Somerset West and Taunton Council voted in July to ban fracking along its section of the coast, which includes the Exmoor National Park.

Sedgemoor District Council could soon follow suit after a motion to ban all fracking on its part of the coast cleared the first hurdle.

The council’s community scrutiny committee discussed the issue when it met in Bridgwater on Monday afternoon (September 9).

The committee was addressed by members of Frack Free Exmoor Quantocks Sedgemoor (EQS), which has more than 1,500 active supporters.

James Russell said: “If commercially recoverable quantities of shale gas are located, there could be many wells being drilled across this part of Somerset.

“In my opinion this would result in an unacceptable blight on the countryside, and will have a significant impact on communities.”

Kevin Ogilvie-White, a self-described “lay expert” on fracking, claimed it was “a massive Ponzi scheme”, arguing the industry currently operating in North America was not financially sustainable.

A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment scam whereby financial returns for early investors are provided by acquiring new investors.

Mr Ogilvie-White said: “The 27 biggest fracking companies have a combined net loss of £200bn from their operations – they are going to the wall.

“A few large companies are making a lot of money and the others are going bust.

“Fracking companies in the US receive 35 times more subsidies than renewable energy firms.”

The final decisions on any formal fracking proposals will be taken by Somerset County Council or the Exmoor National Park Authority, depending on the location in which companies desire to operate.

While current government policy is in favour of fracking in principle, local authorities can adopt policies which go against this provided they are supported by scientific evidence, following a High Court judgement in May.

Councillor Alan Bradford said he was worried about the impact fracking could have on the district’s water supplies.

He said: “In 30 years’ time money may not be any good, but water will be one of the most sought-after commodities in the world. I do not like this [fracking] – full stop.”

Councillor Phil Harvey said fracking could also have a negative impact on tourism, particularly for coastal towns like Burnham-on-Sea.

He said: “‘Come to Burnham for fun, frolics and fracking’ is not going to be the best tag-line, is it?”

The committee voted to approve a motion which would see Sedgemoor become a frack-free zone, as well as opposing “unconventional onshore oil and gas exploration and development” on any land it owns.

The full council could approve the ban in full when it meets in Bridgwater on October 9.