Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
7th April 2014 A district judge at Brighton Magistrates Court has acquitted eight campaigners, arrested at the Balcombe anti-fracking protests, for failing to comply with a condition imposed by police under Section 14 of the Public Order Act.
7th April 2014 Transcripts of last week’s parliamentary questions and statements on: Tax incentives for shale gas investment Leaks from abandoned wells Impact of shale gas on energy prices Energy efficiency Energy self-sufficiency Permitting procedures for deep drilling With thanks to theyworkforyou.com
4th April 2014 District Judge William Ashworth is expected to give his verdict at 11am on Monday in the trial of nine anti-fracking campaigners arrested outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe.
4th April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day five A group of anti-fracking campaigners on trial for failing to comply with a police order should be acquitted because the order was illegal, their barristers claimed today.
4th April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day five Nine anti-fracking campaigners arrested at a sit-down protest outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe deliberately ignored police asking them to move, Brighton Magistrates Court heard this morning.
4th April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day five – morning evidence Police moved anti-fracking campaigners to different places outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site throughout a day of protest last year, without apparently knowing why, a court heard this morning.
April 4th 2014 At least nine events about fracking and shale gas are planned over the next week throughout England. Details, weblinks and email contacts are below.
3rd April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day four – afternoon evidence Three women arrested at a sit-down protest against fracking outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe gave evidence at their trial this afternoon.
3rd April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day four – morning evidence Anti-fracking campaigners who took part in a sit-down protest next to the gate of Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe told a court this morning they would not have stopped emergency vehicles getting in or out.
2nd April 2014 Section 14 trial: Day three – afternoon evidence A former oil engineer arrested at protests outside Cuadrilla’s exploration site at Balcombe told his trial this afternoon that fracking was a “folly” and a “false promise”.
