Environment campaigners are calling on MPs and councils to oppose new propsals to try and extract gas or oil from a number of new sites in Dorset. 

The Government has announced a formal consultation period on a number of new oil or gas extraction applications across the country, including several in Purbeck and elsewhere in Dorset.

East Dorset Friends of the Earth has announced it will actively oppose the applications and is calling on MPs -  specifically "those strongly opposing the offshore windfarm"  - to join them as "this will surely have a much greater impact.”

The applications came after the Department of Energy and Climate Change opened the 14th round for companies seeking licences to explore for onshore oil and gas.

A total of 95 licence applications were initially received, covering 295 "blocks" or defined geographical areas of England, Scotland and Wales.

However, following a decision not to award licences in Scotland and Wales, the applications up for consultation were reduced and now affect 159 blocks.

Bournemouth Echo:

The green blocks are the potential new licences. Beige ones are existing licences.

In Dorset, there are eight licence blocks in around Blandford Forum, Puddletown and in Purbeck. 

If licences are awarded, licensees have exclusive rights to search, bore for and get petroleum but they would still need to apply for any permission necessary to carry out development activity.

Angela Pooley, of East Dorset Friends of the Earth said: "We need to be moving to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources if we are to meet our necessary carbon reduction targets therefore we urge everyone that cares about the quality of life for future generations to oppose these applications."

The consultation closes on September 29, 2015.