Anti-fracking campaigners outside Gloucestershire’s County Hall
Our update of the latest decisions on fracking and onshore oil and gas in the UK including:
- Anti-fracking motions on exploration licences in Trafford, Cheshire and Gloucestershire
- North Yorkshire minerals plan consultation closes and another delay to Kirby Misperton decision
- Recommendation on IGas plans for Nottinghamshire and debate over fracking plans
- Eviction of camp from IGas’s Cheshire site
- MPs approve Housing and Planning Bill
Cheshire
150 police officers from Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales helped bailiffs evict the Upton Community Protection Camp at Duttons Lane, Upton, where IGas has planning permission for coal bed methane exploration. DrillOrDrop report and update
Northwich Town Council agrees to write to Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans and Tatton MP George Osborne asking for support to prevent fracking in the area. Northwich Guardian report
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County council’s environment and communities committee debated fracking on Wednesday 13th January 2016. A motion by the leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Barry Kirby, called on the authority to “write to the Secretary of State to remove the licensing areas within Gloucestershire with immediate effect”. The issue will be discussed at a full meeting of the council. Gloucester Citizen report
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire County Council delays again decision on Third Energy application to frack at Kirby Misperton DrillorDrop report
Meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s Transport, Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to discuss fracking and the minerals local plan, on Friday 22nd January, 10am, Council Chamber, County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AD Details
The public consultation closed today (Friday 15th January 2016) on the minerals and waste plan for North Yorkshire, the City of York and the North York Moors National Park. A couple from Ryedale who visited fracking areas in Pennsylvania called for tougher controls on the shale gas industry in the plan. DrillOrDrop report
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Council recommended to approve IGas application for up to 12 monitoring boreholes at proposed shale gas site at Springs Lane, Misson. Application due to be decided by planning and licensing committee meeting on Tuesday 19th January, 10.30am at County Hall, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP DrillOrDrop report
On 14th January 2016, Nottinghamshire County Council approved the draft minerals local plan, which will set policy on fracking and quarrying. Members voted 39 in favour, 1 against and 25 abstentions. A six-week consultation is due to start in February. Nottingham Post report
Trafford
The Labour Group has submitted a motion to the meeting of the full council on Wednesday 20th January 2016 condemning the award of an exploration licence to INEOS covering the southern part of the borough and reaffirming the council’s opposition to fracking until it can be proved to be safe. The motion calls on the Council “to write to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and to the Oil and Gas Authority directly, outlining our concerns and asking that the decision to award this licence be reconsidered”. The meeting starts at 7pm at Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford M32 0TH Details
Westminster
The government’s Housing and Planning Bill was approved unchanged by the House of Commons on Tuesday 12th January. An amendment by Caroline Lucas (Green, Brighton Pavilion) to remove clause 111 which introduced the concept of permission in principle (see DrillOrDrop report) was not accepted. She was concerned that this clause would allow permission to be granted in principle for fracking as part of a local minerals plan. Debate transcript Report by the Planning Portal The measure had its First Reading in the House of Lords (a formality marking the start of its passage) on Thursday 14th January 2016. The date of the Second Reading debate has not been scheduled.
The Energy Bill has its Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on Monday 18th January 2016. An amendment by Caroline Lucas calls on the House not to give it a second reading because it ignores to need to leave the vast majority of fossil fuels in the ground to meeting the UK’s climate commitments. She also criticises the bill for “taking forward the aim of maximising the economic recovery of oil and gas at a time when the priority should be maximising the economic, energy security and employment contribution of home-grown renewables”. Details
Categories: Regulation
DRILL OR DROP? 
Caroline Lucas seems to be the only voice of sanity amongst a howling mob of lunatics. I really don’t understand why the poisonous, short termism of big business is allowed to pollute common sense.
I really do not understand how people can just accept to import from abroad when we can do things under stronger environmental regulation ourselves as well as creating jobs and taxes that can be used to employ more public sector workers or pay off some of the national debt, but hey, thats people for you. Caroline Lucas seems to be so un-pragmatic that she is spending most of her time in la la land. 4% of people agree with her of course, which is plenty to sign an online petition and feel like you’re popular, but sort of shows when it comes to the actual national election.