An April Fools prank had Machen residents fracked off as fake planning notices claimed an energy company wanted to drill for gas.
The application by France Automated Kinetic Energy (FAKE) was presented on realistic Caerphilly County Borough Council headed paper, and claimed the company were applying for a temporary licence of 52 weeks to test for methane gas.
Local resident Matthew Richards told Caerphilly Observer about the scam.
He said: “I got home from work and my wife said that there was a proposed fracking site in the village, but when I saw the posters they were signed by ‘Fwll Ebrill’.
“Most of the village was up in arms and petitions were being constructed, but by the evening people started to realise it was an April Fools prank.”
Fracking is a controversial process that extracts shale gas by pumping a high pressured water mixture into layers of rock.
The UK Government has approved fracking and supporters claim it is cleaner than traditional mining of fossil fuels and could avert an energy crisis, but critics claim it can contaminate water supplies and cause earthquakes.
A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The council can confirm that the planning notice distributed in Machen yesterday is bogus and does not relate to an active application.”
As a Machen resident I find this highly amusing – here in Machen there are a notorious group of folk who love nothing better than to protest against somebodies planning application – I heard a rumour that they proposed to begin drilling in the car park of the now closed Fwrrwm Ishta, whoever the culprit of this cruel prank is, I salute you.
Caerphilly Council, a `message` that fracking is to take place, a decision on which, is to be taken by `officers`, and April Fool, all sit comfortably together. I wonder if there is some subliminal message hear???.
I live in Machen and saw the posters in the village. I was ready to start a petition to stop oppose the plans. It was a very clever prank to pull as we have already lost the hub of the village as the Fwrrwm Ishta is being turned into a massive house with plans submitted for 4 more. Hats off to the culprit of this prank whoever it was will always be guaranteed a free pint at anyone of the few remaining pubs in the village.