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.
Ruth Hayhurst
Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
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.
Fracking Week in Westminster (28th April-2nd May)
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 […]
West Sussex responds to charge of ignoring its own motion on oil and gas applications with Balcombe decision
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.
100% acquittal of anti-fracking protesters charged with public order offences 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.
Cheers greet acquittal of Balcombe poet on anti-fracking protest charge – full report
1st May 2014 Cheers from the public gallery greeted the words of District Judge Peter Crabtree: “Mr Welsh you are free to go.”
April 2014 fracking timeline
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.
DRILL OR DROP? 