Fracking Week in Westminster (5th-9th May)
10th May 2014 Transcripts of the last week of parliamentary questions and statements on fracking and shale gas With thanks to theyworkforyou.com
Ruth Hayhurst
Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
Prosecutors drop final Balcombe anti-fracking trial
9th May 2014 The last trial arising from the anti-fracking protests outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe has been dropped by prosecutors.
Letter reveals Cuadrilla “had to frack Balcombe area of the Sussex Weald to be commercially productive”
8th May 2014 InvestigatingBalcombeAndCuadrilla.com has seen evidence that the oil and gas company, Cuadrilla, believed it had to frack in the Sussex Weald to be successful.
Celtique Energie promises residents less traffic to its planned well at Wisborough Green/Kirdford
7th May 2014 Celtique Energie has told residents near its proposed exploratory oil well at Kirdford and Wisborough Green that it has revised its plans to reduce lorry traffic and the impact on the environment.
Sussex Chief Constable to be quizzed on protest policing
7th May 2014 The head of Sussex Police, Giles York, is to be questioned later this month on how the force deals with public order events, including the anti-fracking protests at Balcombe.
No regulations on distance between oil and gas wells – HSE reveals
6th May 2014 The organisation responsible for ensuring the safety of Britain’s oil and gas wells has revealed there are no regulations covering a key part of the drilling operation.
Update on West Sussex oil and gas plans, spring 2014
5th May 2014 Lower Stumble, Balcombe West Sussex County Council’s planning committee grants planning permission on April 29th to Cuadrilla Balcombe Ltd for flow testing, a flare, security fencing and site restoration. Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association announces it is to consult lawyers on a judicial review of […]
Fernhurst campaigners condemn Balcombe decision; Celtique Energie revises Fernhurst application
May 5th 2014 The campaign group Frack Free Fernhurst has criticised members of West Sussex County Council planning committee who last week approved Cuadrilla’s planning application to test is oil well at Balcombe.
Decision on Cuadrillla’s Balcombe well should have been delayed – author of oil and gas planning motion
5th May 2014 The decision to grant planning permission to Cuadrilla to test its well at Balcombe should have been deferred, according to one of the authors of guidelines to West Sussex County Council on oil and gas development.
Balcombe residents’ group considers legal challenge to Cuadrilla’s planning permission
4th May 2014 The Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association (FFBRA) is consulting lawyers this week on a legal challenge to the decision to grant planning permission for more work on Cuadrilla’s oil well in the village.
