Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
The defence solicitor in a court case arising from the Balcombe anti-fracking demonstrations said today the law should be applied consistently to all the protestors who were arrested. Shahida Begum was speaking during the trial of Nick Ward, an environmental campaigner from Cambridge, who was arrested at Cuadrilla’s […]
The Centre for Investigative Journalism has chosen Gasland II, Josh Fox’s documentary about the experience of fracking in the United States, for its annual film festival this year. The film will be screened on Saturday February 8th at 5pm at the Oliver Thompson Theatre, City University, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB. Tickets […]
23/12/13 George Brown acquitted of an offence under Section 4 of the Public Order Act after a trial at Horsham Magistrates Court. 21/12/13 Alice O’Keeffe writes in The Guardian about her experience of the climate camp at Balcombe in August.
30/11/13 Residents from Sussex, Falkirk, Belfast, Fylde, Ribble Estuary and the Vale of Glamorgan deliver a letter to David Cameron calling for a ban on shale gas and coal bed methane exploitation.
The report commissioned by the Government to assess the impact of onshore shale oil and gas development admits to multiple uncertainties and makes assumptions that opponents regularly challenge. Uncertainties The report (released 17/12/13) is part of the preparation for the government’s sale of onshore oil and gas licences […]
Members of the Frack-free Balcombe Residents Association delivered a letter to Downing Street (20/12/13), urging David Cameron to reconsider the government’s policy on fracking for shale gas. The letter, signed by the association’s chairman, Charles Metcalfe, calls for a an immediate and binding UK-wide moratorium on shale gas, coal […]
The anti-fracking trial involving Natalie Hynde, daughter of the Pretender’s singer Chrissie Hynde, and Ray Davies, of The Kinks, was adjourned today without any evidence being heard. Ms Hynde denies trespassing on railway property at Balcombe on August 18th during protests against Cuadrilla’s exploration site near the village. […]
Cuadrilla Resources Ltd released the following statement today (17/12/13) about the decision to close its fracking site at Preese Hall in Lancashire. “As part of its ongoing evaluation of its exploration sites in Lancashire, Cuadrilla has today announced that no further work will take place at its Preese […]
The Blackpool Gazette reports that Cuadrilla is to pull out of the only site in Britain where high pressure fracking has taken place. The paper reports a company statement that no further work would take place at Preese Hall, near Weeton, the site linked to two earth tremors […]
West Sussex County Council has apologised to Balcombe residents for mistakes made during the summer when Cuadrilla drilled an exploration oil well on the edge of the village. Louise Goldsmith, the county council leader, told a public meeting of villagers on December 5th that the summer’s drilling had […]
DRILL OR DROP? 