Reporting of the politics at national and local level of the shale gas and fracking debate
Fracking Week in Parliament: DrillOrDrop review of what UK politicians say about the onshore oil and gas industry. The Prime Minister was questioned about statements on her website supporting local decision-making – at a time when the government proposes to take some shale gas schemes out of local […]
Government proposals to bypass local decision-making for shale gas developments are to be challenged on Wednesday (12 September 2018) with a women’s rally outside the House of Commons and a parliamentary debate.
A Conservative-led council which could see the first frack in North Yorkshire has overwhelming rejected government proposals to change planning policy for shale gas exploration.
The Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, has refused to renew a lease of land for oil drilling in Surrey because of the damage it could do to ancient woodland.
Labour’s climate change spokesman, Barry Gardiner, today visited Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site near Blackpool, where fracking is imminent. He also went to Altcar Moss, a site near Formby earmarked for fracking by Aurora Resources.
Most of the notes about a recent meeting between a minister and the shale gas industry have been redacted “in the public interest” or because they contained confidential information, a government department has said.
The leader of Conservative-controlled Derbyshire County Council has said government plans designed to fast-track shale gas will cut local authorities out of decisions with the biggest impact on communities.
Senior experts have signed a letter calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the health impacts of fracking.
A government report which concluded that shale gas extraction increases air pollution was unpublished for three years and then released just after ministers approved fracking in Lancashire.
By Chloe Farand, DeSmog UK. The UK government is recruiting a shale gas commissioner to “facilitate communication” with residents and promote what is sees as the benefits of a new fossil fuel industry. The position was announced days before the government gave the go-ahead for fracking to start in Lancashire.
DRILL OR DROP? 