Reporting of the politics at national and local level of the shale gas and fracking debate
The final cost of policing last summer’s demonstrations outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe was £3.985 million. A press release from the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, said the total included police salaries, overtime, rest day working and support from other police forces. Mrs Bourne has […]
The energy minister, Michael Fallon, said he would do anything he could to remove barriers to shale gas exploration and increase the pace of development. He was giving evidence to the House of Lords economic affairs committee which is carrying out an inquiry into the shale gas industry. […]
A large number of environmental campaigners stood on top of the well pad at Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe this afternoon (19/1/14). The action came at the end of a rally outside the site, which attracted around 300 people. They included residents of Balcombe, members of last […]
Anti-fracking groups from across the UK, gathering in Balcombe this afternoon (19/1/14), were told they had to win the battle against shale gas. The Green MEP and French farmer, Jose Bove, told a rally outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site in the village: “Losing is not an option. For the […]
The shale industry needs to improve its engagement with the public, according to one of the UK’s leading environmental advisors. In a report published this week, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) said there was a “disappointing degree of defensiveness” from people closely involved in […]
The Lancashire Evening Posts reports that Cuadrilla Resources has pledged to be “a good neighbour” and pay a community benefit of £100,000 for each exploration wellhead where fracking takes place in the county. The paper reports that the Community Foundation for Lancashire will run a pilot scheme managing community […]
The Guardian reported that Britain has defeated European Union attempts to set legally binding environmental regulations for the shale gas industry. According to the paper, David Cameron has led intense lobbying against the proposals, arguing that existing rules are strict enough to keep fracking safe and that new rules would delay investment and increase […]
David Cameron announced this morning that councils would be able to keep 100% of business rates they collect from shale gas sites, up from the current figure of 50%. Speaking in Lincolnshire, he said this could be worth up to £1.7 million a year for a typical fracking […]
The Times reports (9/1/14) the Government is prepared to give communities near fracking sites a bigger share of the proceeds, following pressure from backbench Conservative MPs. The paper said ministers are willing to reconsider the present proposals for community benefits which would give local groups 1 per cent […]
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 […]
DRILL OR DROP? 