Restoration of Nottinghamshire’s only shale gas site is due to begin later this month.
Nottinghamshire county council confirmed today that work at the Springs Road site at Misson would start on Monday 18 September 2023 and take about 15 weeks.
The pad, operated by Star Energy Group, formerly IGas, is on the Rocket Site, a former bombing range and test base for cold war Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles.
It is next to Misson Carr site of special scientific interest, a large wetland fen, home to rare and threatened wildlife, including all five species of British owl.
The Misson site has one shale gas well, drilled in early 2019.
IGas previously said the well encountered hydrocarbon-bearing shale. It described exploration results as “highly encouraging” and a “step forward for shale gas development in the east midlands”.
The company continued to state that fracking was part of its plan for Misson, even though a moratorium on the operation in England was introduced in November 2019 and remains in force.
In 2021, the county council refused an extension of planning permission and ordered the site be restored. IGas decided not to appeal.
More than two years later, the company appears ready begin the restoration scheme.
A council planner said today work would return the site to its former condition:
“We have received correspondence from Star Energy which states that they intend to commence restoration works on the 18th September 2023 starting with the abandonment of the well which will take up to 4 weeks, followed by the removal of all the stone via HGV, (which will only turn right out of site and not travel through Misson village) which will take approximately 11 weeks.
“They advise us that end stop date for completion of the restoration is 31 January 2024.”
The shale gas proposals at Misson attracted local and national opposition.
In 2016, 87% of Misson villagers voted in a poll against the IGas proposals, 4% were in favour and 9% undecided. A petition in the village against the application collected 363 signatures, representing 70% of the population.
Later that year, the county council’s planning committee voted by 7-4 in favour of the application, despite more than 2,600 objections.
Work at the site began in November 2017. There were frequent protests outside the gate, often focussing on the threat to local wildlife. A huge model owl became a symbol of the opposition to shale gas proposals across the UK.
DrillOrDrop will report on the site restoration process.
Categories: Industry, Regulation, slider
DRILL OR DROP? 
Congratulations to everyone involved in a brilliant campaign at Misson and throughout the anti-fracking community.
🎉🥳🍻👏
Now let’s end all new fossil fuel extraction.
What a suggestion, Dorkinian.
That would soon put an end to your postings on DoD! A lot of merit in that, but a lot of consequences towards others, that the others are not too keen on.
Seems the latest auction for UK off shore wind has been a raging success. LOL.
Well done everyone. Persitence works!!!!
[Comment removed by moderator]
Perhaps the new US nukes can be stationed there? It used to be a missile base?
Yes, Paul-surprising what the owls can cope with, isn’t it! Let’s hope not wind turbines, otherwise their days will be truly numbered.