31/1/14
The Crown Prosecution Service reveals that 35 charges arising from the Balcombe anti-fracking protests have been dropped before reaching trial. More
30/1/14
Keyon Bayandor found guilty at Brighton Magistrates Court of obstructing the police during the anti-fracking protests at Balcombe. He was conditionally discharged for one year. More
Research from Nottingham University suggests support for fracking is continuing to fall and opposition growing since the Balcombe protests Details
29/1/14
Allan Campbell steps down as chief executive of AJ Lucas, the Australian mining company which owns 43.7 per cent of Cuadrilla
Tony Jones, an anti-fracking campaigner at the Balcombe protests, is acquitted of resisting arrest but found guilty of assaulting a police officer. He is ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid work under a community order. More
28/1/14
Environment Secretary, Owen Patterson, calls for fracking wells across the British countryside.
Aaron Bell found not guilty of obstructing police at Balcombe
27/1/14
The government is to consider changing the trespass laws to make it easier for energy companies to explore for shale gas.
Six women who glued themselves to the doors of Cuadrilla’s PR company acquitted of aggravated trespass and criminal damage
26/1/14
Chris Huhne tells The Guardian fracking won’t save the British economy
Geoff Davies, CEO of Celtique Energie, says if his company doesn’t drill in West Sussex another operator will.
24/1/14
Timothy Harris and Kaity Squires found guilty of assaulting police at Balcombe but Zachary Hewitt acquitted. More
No Fracking in Balcombe Society says it doesn’t believe Cuadrilla will never frack at Balcombe
West Sussex County Council says an Environmental Impact Assessment is not needed for Cuadrilla’s new planning application at Balcombe
21/1/14
A Cambridge University study says shale drilling companies should be paying £6bn a year in taxes by the mid-2020s as compensation for environmental damage.
23/1/14
Cuadrilla in a letter to Balcombe residents says it has no plans ever to frack at Balcombe
Sussex Police says costs of last summer’s demonstrations outside Cuadrilla’s site at Balcombe were £3.985 million
21/1/14
Energy Minister, Michael Fallon, tells the House of Lords he will do anything to remove barriers to shale gas exploration
20/1/14
Lord Deben (John Gummer, writing in The Guardian, says opposition to fracking is “nonsensical”
19/1/14
Campaigners occupy Cuadrilla’s Balcombe drill site
Nationwide anti-fracking meeting at Balcombe
16/1/14
CIWEM tells shale industry to be more open
15/1/14
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers finds 47 per cent of people would be unhappy to have a shale gas site within 10 miles of their home, compared to 14 per cent who would.
A Freedom of Information Act request by InvestigatingBalcomebAndCuadrilla.com reveals that nearly half the legal cases arising from the Balcombe protests have been dropped by police or prosecutors.
14/1/14
Sussex Police employs a civilian to manage its investigation into fracking protests
Court hears that Sussex Chief Constable Martin Richards will be called to give evidence at an anti-fracking test case
13/1/14
David Cameron announces councils will keep 100% of business rates from shale gas sites – up from the current 50%
The UK Onshore Operators Group announces pilot community benefit scheme for selected sites – but admits the sites haven’t yet been selected
10/1/14
Crown Prosecution Service makes no comment on acquittal of first people arrested at Balcombe anti-fracking protests
9/1/14
11 people charged with obstructing the highway at Balcombe anti-fracking protest found not guilty Details
The Times reports that the government is prepared to give communities near fracking sites a bigger share of the proceeds More
7/1/14
Trial begins of first people arrested at Balcombe anti-fracking protests
2/1/14
A defence solicitor in one of the Balcombe anti-fracking court case calls for legal consistency of charges
Categories: Daily headlines