Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
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.
2nd May 2014 Transcripts of the last week of parliamentary questions and statements on fracking and shale gas With thanks to theyworkforyou.com 28/4/14 Question by Maria Eagle ,shadow environment secretary To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff at the Environment […]
2nd May 2014 West Sussex County Council has issued a statement in response to charges that it ignored its own motion on approving oil and gas developments when it gave the green light to Cuadrilla’s plans at Balcombe.
1st May 2014 All the anti-fracking campaigners charged with public order offences by Sussex Police after last year’s protests at Balcombe have now been found not guilty.
1st May 2014 Cheers from the public gallery greeted the words of District Judge Peter Crabtree: “Mr Welsh you are free to go.”
An at-a-glance view of April’s news about fracking and onshore oil and gas. For the current month’s news click here 30/4/14 The Guardian reports on REPOWERBalcombe, the scheme which aims to supply the equivalent of 100% of the village’s electricity demand through community-owned, locally-generated renewable energy.
1st May 2014 Poet Simon Welsh, who was arrested for singing outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site during last year’s anti-fracking protests at Balcombe, has been acquitted of a public order offence. Mr Welsh, 35, of High Street, Balcombe, denied he failed to comply with a condition imposed by […]
30th April 2014 On April 16th, we asked Cuadrilla to respond to an article on the CBI website, which used the company as a case study of community engagement and building community trust. We also asked Cuadrilla to respond to statements from the Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association. Cuadrilla […]
30th April 2014 Yesterday, the planning committee of West Sussex County Council granted planning permission to Cuadrilla to test the viability of its oil exploration well at Balcombe. This is despite nearly 900 objections to the public consultation, a 5,000-name petition against the application and presentations in opposition […]
30th April 2014 Friends of the Earth described the approval of Cuadrilla’s application to test drill decision at Balcombe as “extremely disappointing”. The organisation’s south east campaigner, Brenda Pollack, said the planning committee of West Sussex County Council had not listened to the views of local people.
DRILL OR DROP? 