Wales Online: Shale gas application near Richard Burton's birthplace turned down amid 'fracking' fears

An application to test for methane, which locals believe could lead to “fracking” for shale gas in a forestry site near the birthplace of legendary actor Richard Burton, has been turned down by councillors.

Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s planning committee rejected plans by UK Methane Ltd for an exploratory borehole at land within the Foel Fynyddau Forest, near the Afan Valley village of Pontrhydyfen where miner’s son Richard Burton was born on November 10, 1925.

The proposal by Bridgend-based UK Methane Ltd was to use a bore hole to test for any coal bed methane gases in the area.

Residents have raised concerns the application could lead to a future application for hydraulic fracturing known as fracking.
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