IGas site at Ellesmere Port. Photo: Frack Free Ellesmere and Upton
Events in January and beyond about UK fracking, onshore oil and gas and campaigning.
- Public inquiry into IGas plans for Ellesmere Port
- Closing date on government consultation on consulting the public on shale gas
- 4th regional anti-fracking strategy meeting
- Judicial review of planning permission for Ineos scheme at Harthill
- Plus meetings, rallies and training
Please let us know here if you’d like us to add your events or if any details are wrong. This post will be updated throughout the month with new information and includes events that we know about in the rest of 2018.
Thursday 3 January 2019
Arrested – what happens next? Online meeting starting at 7pm. Details and how to join here or here
Friday 4 January 2019
Black Friday at Preston New Road. 10am-4pm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE. Details
Saturday 5 January 2019
Media training for anti-frackers by Seeds for Change. 10am-5pm, Woodsetts area, venue to be confirmed. Details and to register
Sunday 6 January 2019
Meeting about oil drilling at Biscathorpe. 3pm North Kelsey Village Hall, School Lane, Morth Kelsey Lincolnshire. Note new venue
Monday 7 January 2019
Greater Manchester spatial framework announced, expected to include a presumption against fracking.
Closing date for comments in government consultation on consulting the public over shale gas schemes. Details
Extinction or survival – what we need to do now. 7pm-8.30pm, The Wesley Room, Ambleside Parish Centre, Vicarage Rd, Ambleside LA22 9DH. Details
Norfolk Against Fracking monthly meeting. 7pm, The Golden Star, 57 Colegate, Norwich NR3. Details
Frack Free Ellesmere Port & Upton open evening on IGas plans to test its well at Portside. 7.15pm, Green Oak Farm pub, Rossmore Road Ellesmere Port CH65 3EN. Details
Tuesday 8 January 2019
Planning meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council to discuss plans by Sibelco for extension of a silica sand quarry. 4pm, Room G1, HQ Building, 58 Nicholas Street, Chester, CH1 2NP. Details
Sheffield Against Fracking AGM and monthly meeting. 7.30pm-9.30pm, Central URC Church, 60 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JB. Details
Frack Free Tinker Lane meeting. 7.30pm-9pm, The Red Hart Bawtry Road, Blyth, Worksop S81 8HG. Details
Thursday 10 January 2019
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Fracking and other wildlife stuff. Talk by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Janice Bradley. 7.30pm, Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre, North Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 8RQ. Details
Friday 11 January 2019
Black Friday event. 10am-4pm, Preston New Road shale gas site, Little Plumpton near Blackpool PR4 3PE. Details
Hand down of ruling in judicial review brought by Friends of the Earth against the Environment Agency over the environmental permit for Preston New Road. 2pm, Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London. Details
Saturday 12 January 2019
4th regional anti-fracking strategy meeting for South Yorkshire/East Midlands anti-fracking groups. 10am-1pm, The Wesley Centre, Blyth Road, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8JD. Details
Monday 14 January 2019
Frack Free Notts January action-planning meeting. 7pm-9.30pm, Lincolnshire Poacher pub, 161-163 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FR. Details
Tuesday 15 January 2019
No fracking in Cheshire rally. 9am-11am, Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ. Details
Scheduled opening of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 10am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ. Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Harthill Against Fracking public meeting. 7pm, Peregrin Centre, Peregrin Way, Harthill, South Yorkshire, S26 7UP. Details
Let Communities Decide video call: council motions and more. 7pm-8pm. Details
Wednesday 16 January 2019
Hearing day of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 9.3am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ. Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Thursday 17 January 2019
Hearing day of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 9.3am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ. Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Friday 18 January 2019
Hearing day of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 9.3am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ. Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Monday 21 January 2019
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site is Danny Goss, for Friends of the Earth. 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Tuesday 22 January 2019
Hearing day of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 9.3am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ. Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Fracking: health impacts and the KM8 victory. Meeting with speakers, EddieThornton, Tim Thornton and Deborah Gibson. 7.30pm-9.30pm, Theatre Deli, Sheffield S1 4QZ. Details and to register
Wednesday 23 January 2019
Hearing day of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 9.3am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ.Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Thursday 24 January 2019
Scheduled hearing day of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 9.3am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ.Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Additional session on unconventional oil and gas at examination in public of North Yorkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan. 10am, The Council Chamber, North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AH. Details
Environment Agency public drop-in on Rathlin Energy’s West Newton environmental permit. 3.30pm-6.30pm, Sproatley Village Hall, Main Street, Sproatley, HU11 4PA. Details
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Public meeting with speakers from Brockham Oil Watch about Angus Energy’s operation in Brockham, including information on earthquakes, acidising, and fund-raising to monitor environmental impacts.. 8pm-9.30pm, Bramble Hall, Balcombe RH17 6HR. Details
Friday 25 January 2019
Scheduled hearing day of public inquiry into refusal of planning permission to IGas for testing at Ellesmere Port well. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. 9.3am, Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ.Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Additional session on unconventional oil and gas at examination in public of North Yorkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan. 10am, The Council Chamber, North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AH. Details
Hearing of judicial review of approval of planning permission for Ineos shale gas site at Harthill. Time to be confirmed, High Court, Leeds. Details
Site visit to Harthill, 25 January 2018. Photo: Paul Rowland
Clay Cross Against Fracking meeting. 7pm, Pilsley Village Hall, Peartree Road, Chesterfield S45 8HU. Details
Saturday 26 January 2019
Fighting fracking and divestment: the role of health professionals. 2pm-5.15pm, Leeds. Details and tickets
Monday 28 January 2019
Green Monday at Preston New Road. Speakers include Krista Cowman, Professor of History at Lincoln University. 12.30pm, outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road, Little Plumpton PR4 3PE. Details
Tuesday 29 January 2019
Fight Climate Change – climate drinks. 7pm, The Enterprise, 38 Red Lion Street, London WC1R 4PN. Details
Wednesday 30 January 2019
Poet’s Day at Women’s Call for Calm. 10am, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton PR4 3PE.
Coal Aston & Dronfiield Against Fracking meeting. 7.15pm-9pm, Gosforth Lodge, Cliffe Park, Callywhite Lane, Dronfield S18 2XP.
Chesterfield Climate Alliance meeting. 7.30pm, Chesterfield Alehouse, 37 West Bars, Chesterfield S40 1AG. Details
Thursday 31 January 2019
Lancashire for Shale roadshow event. 8am-10am, Chorley. Details
Framing climate justice: An evening discussion. Hosted by 350.org, PIRC and NEON. Fully booked but returns may be available. 7pm, Lift, 45 White Lion Street, London N1 9PW. Details
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Coming up later
Friday 1 February 2019
Keith Taylor MEP (second left) with opponents of oil drilling at the Horse Hill site near Horley. Photo: Office of Keith Taylor MEP
Keith Taylor MEP hosts free pop-up film screening of The Bentley Effect. 6.30pm, Hookwood Memorial Hall, Withey Meadows, Horley RH6 0AZ. Details
Saturday 2 February 2019
Let communities decide gathering. 11am-4.30pm, Friends of the Earth, 139 Clapham Road, London SW9 0HP. Details
SOS Climate Emergency Day meeting. Public meeting about climate and planned regional actions. 1.15pm, Quaker Meeting House, Worthing Road, Horsham RH12 1SW. Details
Open camp meeting on monitoring Horse Hill oil site. 2pm, Horse Hill camp, opposite the Black Horse pub, A217 Reigate Rd, Horley RH6 0HU. Details
Monday 4 February 2019
John Ashton (with microphone) outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site, 16 February 2018. Photo: Refracktion
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site is former climate diplomat, John Ashton. 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Norfolk Against Fracking monthly meeting. 7pm, The Golden Star, 57 Colegate, Norwich NR3. Details
Tuesday 5 February 2019
Frack Free Yeovil general meeting. 7pm, Railway Hotel, 63 Hendford Hill, Yeovil BA20 2QN. Details
Sheffield Against Fracking monthly meeting. 7.30pm, Central United Reformed Church, 60 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JB. Details
Thursday 7 February 2019
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Eckington Against Fracking monthly meeting. 7.30pm, Eckington Miners’ Welfare Club, Pipeyard Lane, Eckington S21 4FA. Details
Friday 8 February 2019
Know your rights training. Green and Black Cross. 7pm, Bosvale Community Centre, Hillside Road, Crossways, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4HQ. Details
Saturday 9 February 2019
Presentation and Q&A on fracking in Lancashire. Organised by Concerned Residents of Lancashire. 2pm-4pm, Ribby Hall, Woodlands Suite, Ribby Road, Wrea Green PR4 2PR. Details and to register
Love the planet workshops, solidarity and music. 1pm onwards, Misson Springs Protection Camp DN10 6ET. Details
Monday 11 February 2019
Closing date of public consultation on permit variation for Rathlin Energy site at West Newton. Details
Tuesday 12 February 2019
FrackaCakeDay. Entrance to IGas Misson Springs site, Misson, north Nottinghamshie DN10 6ET
Tinker Lane Community Meeting. 7.30pm, The Red Hart, Blyth, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Details
Thursday 14 February 2019
Decision date for Angus Energy application for round-the-clock oil production from its Lidsey site. Details
Saturday 16 February 2019
Effect groups training. 10.30am, The Wesley Centre, Blyth Rd, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8JD. Details
Monday 18 February 2019
Closing date of public consultation on drilling and long-term oil production at Horse Hill, Surrey. Details
Friday 22 February 2019
Centrica and British Gas – stop funding fracking. Event by London Reclaim the Power and Fuel Poverty Action. 11am-12.30pm, Centrica HQ, Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor SL4 5GD. Details
Saturday 23 February 2019
Fund-raising ceildh. 7.30pm-11pm, Barnby Memorial Hall, High Street, Blyth, Nottinghamshire S81 8EW. To raise funds for anti-fracking campaign. Details
Sunday 24 February 2019
Start of Dorking Climate Emergency Week. Continues until Saturday 2 March. Details
Monday 25 February 2019
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site is musician and environmental/social justice activist, Chris Bluemel (below right), of Earth First, . 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Tuesday 26 February 2019
Reconvened public inquiry into IGas plans to test for shale gas at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. Time to be confirmed. Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ.Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Wednesday 27 February 2019
Reconvened public inquiry into IGas plans to test for shale gas at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. Time to be confirmed. Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ.Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Coal Aston & Dronfiield Against Fracking meeting. 7.15pm-9pm, Gosforth Lodge, Cliffe Park, Callywhite Lane, Dronfield S18 2XP.
Thursday 28 February 2019
Reconvened public inquiry into IGas plans to test for shale gas at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Ref: APP/A0665/W/18/3207952. Time to be confirmed. Assembly Room, Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ.Planning Inspectorate page for the inquiry
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Monday 4 March 2019
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site is environmental and political journalist, Donnachadh McCarthy . 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Tuesday 5 March 2019
Hearing at the Court of Appeal into challenge to Ineos injunction against protests at potential shale gas sites. Time and venue to be confirmed. Details
Pro-democracy and anti-fracking rally. 11am-2pm, Parliament Square, London SW1A. Details
Wednesday 6 March 2019
Hearing at the Court of Appeal into challenge to Ineos injunction against protests at potential shale gas sites. Time and venue to be confirmed. Details
Thursday 7 March 2019
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Eckington Against Fracking monthly meeting. 7.30pm, Eckington Miners’ Welfare Club, Pipeyard Lane, Eckington S21 4FA. Details
Saturday 9 March 2019
Coffee morning by Roseacre Awareness Group about Cuadrilla’s Roseacre Wood plans. 11am, Elswick Village Hall, Roseacre Road, Elswick, Preston PR4 3UD. Details
Monday 11 March 2019
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speakers, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site, are Carolyn Kagan and Mark Burton (pictured above), of the Steady State Manchester Collective. 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Thursday 14 March 2019
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Saturday 16 March 2019
Regional strategy meeting for South Yorkshire and the East Midlands. 10am-1pm, Wesley Centre, Blyth Road, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8JD. Details
Nick Danby Source: Cuadrilla Inquiry
Monday 18 March 2019
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site, is Nick Danby of Frack Free Lancashire (pictured left). 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Wednesday 20 March 2019
Expected date of Surrey County Council planning committee at which Horse Hill application for additional wells and long-term production will be discussed. 10.30am, Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN. Details
Thursday 21 March 2019
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Saturday 23 March 2019
Community climate action networking event. Hosted by Community Climate Action Network for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. 12 noon-4pm, Loundsley Green Community Centre, Cuttholme Road, Chesterfield S40 4QU. Details
Monday 25 March 2019
Barbara Richardson, chair of Roseacre Awareness Group, outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site, 15 October 2018. Photo: DrillOrDrop
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site, is Barbara Richardson, chair of Roseacre Awareness Group (pictured right). 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Thursday 28 March 2019
Frack Free Misson meeting. 7.30pm, Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Doncaster DN10 6EB
Thursday 4 April 2019
Next steps for the unconventional oil and gas market in the UK. Meeting organised by Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum. Includes speakers from the Environment Agency, consultancies, British Geological Survey, UKOOG and the shale gas commissioner, Natascha Engel. 9am-1pkm, central LondonAgenda and details
Monday 8 April 2019
Photo: Jem Bendell
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site, is Jem Bendell (pictured left), Professor of Sustainability Leadership, at Cumbria University. 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
15 April 2019
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site, is Dan Bailey, Professor of Sustainability Leadership, at Cumbria University. 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Monday 6 May 2019
Chesterfield May Day. Details to be confirmed
20 May 2019 or 27 May 2019
Green Mondays at Preston New Road. Main speaker, at about 12.30pm, outside the Preston New Road site, is Rupert Read, founder and chair of the Green House think-tank and reader in philosophy at University of East Anglia. 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE.
Categories: Diary
DRILL OR DROP? 
This month Hitachi will decide whether to go ahead with their (low carbon) nuclear investment on Anglesey. From the BBC…
“The Nikkei Asian Review reported Hitachi’s board would be likely to decide to suspend all work on the Wylfa Newydd plant on Anglesey next week”
It looks like, even with government support, these huge investments are proving too risky for private companies. Increasingly this winter coal has filled the intermittency gap in electricity production and will again do so as we move into a cold snap at the end of January. With coal plants coming off line by 2025 what is the Plan B to keep the lights on on windless winter nights? I suspect it will be to extend the life of older nuclear plants. Now what’s the risk of that, or of greater coal use, compared with fracking induced micro earth tremors that can’t be felt at the surface?
With all those civil servants being diverted into Brexi preparations one wonders who is taking on the rational planning function in Whitehall. Let’s hope it isn’t the guys who allowed fly by night electricity supply companies to set up, profit, and then leave their customers in the lurch.
Interesting news sure to spark debate in January.
This month Claire Perry admitted in a Parliamentary Answer that electricity prices for large industrial users in the U.K. (steel, ceramics, chemicals etc) are DOUBLE electricity prices in France and Germany. (Gas prices are cheaper or comparable). As a response to the electricity price differential the Dept of BEIS has excluded large users from paying their share of the Contract for Difference Payments designed to encourage Green electricity production. This means of course that smaller firms & the ordinary Joe is paying instead.
On the other side of the World, The Chinese government is refusing to allow new renewable projects unless they can compete on price with COAL. Not sure what that means for Chinese levels of pollution and CO2 levels worldwide.