Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
3rd March 2014 1. Balcombe: end of public consultation approaches WSCC/005/14/BA application by Cuadrilla Balcombe Ltd There are 10 days left for people to respond to Cuadrilla’s application to flow test and monitor its oil exploration well at Lower Stumble. (The consultation period ends on 13th March 2014).
2nd March 2014 As the shale gas industry acknowledges that local antagonism may its biggest challenge, guest writer Paul Seaman looks at what drives opposition and how the companies respond. A recent survey on attitudes in oil and gas companies found that 55% of the industry believed local […]
1st March 2014 March sees two major events in the fracking debate. They bring together some of the biggest names in the industry and, potentially, the largest gathering of the anti-fracking community.
A round-up of fracking news from February 2014. 28/2/14A freedom of information request to the Department of Energy and Climate Change confirms that Cuadrilla did not seismic surveys at Balcombe. The most recent surveys, according to DECC, were 2d surveys and were carried out in the 1900s
28th February 2014 A freedom of information request has confirmed that Cuadrilla carried out no seismic surveys in the Balcombe area and is relying on data from the 1990s, which one geologist has said is inadequate. Last year, Cuadrilla drilled a vertical and a horizontal oil exploration well […]
28th February 2014 A new report* from the United States has found no comprehensive population-based studies about the effect of fracking on human health, despite broad public concern. The report, in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental science and technology, looked at the available research on the environmental, social and […]
27th February 2014 Two anti-fracking campaigners arrested at the Balcombe protests were convicted this week of the ancient act of besetting. Sussex Police tried to prosecute more than 20 others for the same offence. So is besetting making a comeback and could it be a threat to environmental […]
26th February 2014 Balcombe Parish Council’s Oil Working Group meets today to discuss the village’s future policy on hydrocarbon issues. But how much influence will the council – and local people – have on oil exploration or production in their area? Is there a democratic deficit in decision-making […]
25th February 2014 Yesterday, Balcombe Parish Council published the results of its poll on residents’ attitudes to drilling for oil and gas in the village and potential fracking. 59.8% of the potential 1,507 voters returned the polling card. 60% of respondents were against Cuadrilla returning to Balcombe to flow test […]
25th February 2014 For the past five months, InvestigatingBalcombeAndCuadrilla.com has been trying to find out What do the Lib Dems really think about fracking? The Department for Energy and Climate Change, under Lib Dem Ed Davey, is preparing to sell petroleum exploration and development licences (PEDL) which will […]
DRILL OR DROP? 