Opposed to permitted development rights being used for non-hydraulic fracturing shale gas exploration development (“exploration for fracking”) .

Must ensure maximum weight is given to human and environmental concerns when considering impacts of mineral extraction.

The lack of details on possible fracking as well as mineral extraction makes any detailed comments difficult to make.

site allocation can be assessed against the Coal Authority data

the environment. We believe that the statement in DM14 “Proposals should be supported by adequate evidence, to the satisfaction of the council, that the development is needed and justified, and that potential impacts have been satisfactorily investigated and addressed. Proposals must not have unacceptable impacts and should satisfactorily mitigate any adverse impacts” should be strengthened in order to ensure that maximum weight is given to these concerns.

Prevent fracking in North Somerset especially on the Bleadon levels.

The existing policy DM14 includes very tight environmental and other criteria for mineral extraction. These should not be relaxed in any way. I would like to see a policy which rules out totally the on-shore extraction of oil and gas (including fracking) as being totally incompatible with the requirement to reduce carbon emissions.

There should be a ban on fracking and on exploratory drilling for shale gas. The government’s proposal to allow exploration through permitted development rights is undemocratic, unsupported and unacceptable.

Assume that there will be no proposals or such schemes in or near Portishead.

We have no specific comments although major extensions to current mineral workings would be unwelcome.