Environmental campaigners and Scotland’s energy minister have criticised the government for ignoring opposition and going ahead with plans to change the trespass laws in favour of shale gas drilling. An industry group said the decision would pave the way for shale gas development in the UK.
The government is going ahead with plans to change the trespass law to give underground access to oil and gas drilling companies, despite more than 40,000 objections.
Researchers behind Nottingham University’s long-running survey of public attitudes to shale gas extraction say the turn against fracking after the Balcombe protests has bottomed-out – but deep-seated unease about fracking remains.
The government has dismissed concerns about the impact of fracking on health, water quality, climate change and local businesses. It also rejected criticism of conflicts of interest and a failure to take part in public debates about fracking.
Coming events this autumn related to fracking and onshore oil and gas Sunday 21st September People’s Climate March, London, Assembles 12.30, Temple Place, Embankment. Details People’s Climate March, Manchester, to lobby Labour Party Conference, Assembles 11am, Piccadilly Gardens. Details People’s Climate March, Chichester, to deliver petition to the […]
Anti-tracking campaigners outside South Downs National Park HQ where Celtique Energie application to drill at Fernhurst is decided today.
20th August 2014 A new series on BBC Radio 4, which uses techniques from mediation and conflict resolution, begins tonight (Wednesday August 20th) with the issue of fracking. But the arguments in favour will not be put by politicians or industry but by an ex-academic.
13th August 2014 An editorial in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph urged the government to share what it called the “bad news – and the bonanza – on fracking”. “It is patronising and self-defeating”, it said, “to avoid a discussion about the localised implications of drilling”.
12th August 2014 The latest government survey of public attitudes to fracking has shown a fall in support. The Public Attitudes Tracker, commissioned by Department of Energy and Climate Change and published today, reveals under a quarter of respondents supported shale gas extraction.
11th August 2014 The Green MP Caroline Lucas has accused the government of hiding information from the public on fracking after a report on the impact of shale gas on the rural economy was heavily redacted.
DRILL OR DROP? 