Review of 2018
2018 was a year of firsts for fracking and the campaigns against it, with successes and setbacks on both sides of the argument.
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Thank you for supporting independent journalism on DrillOrDrop.com during 2018.
Guest weekend long read: Lancashire Police tipped off benefit officials about disabled anti-fracking protesters
In this guest post, John Pring, of the Disability News Service, reports on how Lancashire police sent information to a government department about disabled anti-fracking protesters. He also investigates accusations that the force repeatedly targeted vulnerable people at protests.
Women win right to appeal against UKOG protest injunction
Six women have won the right to appeal against an injunction on direct action protests at oil sites in Sussex and Surrey.
Plans published for four more wells and 20 years of oil production at Horse Hill, Surrey
The expected planning application for four production wells at the Horse Hill oil site near Gatwick has been published.
Investigation reveals high failure rate for onshore oil and gas licences
In the week that IGas confirmed its Tinker Lane well had missed the Bowland shale, campaigner Ben Dean investigates the high failure rate of UK onshore oil and gas licences in the past two decades.
Angus gets permit approval for appraisal but not production
The Environment Agency has given the go-ahead to Angus Energy for appraisal at its Brockham site in Surrey. But the company does not yet have consent for production.
Councils can use climate change evidence to reject fracking, government lawyer tells High Court
English local councils can reject national policy on fracking if they have evidence that the process contributes to climate change, a government barrister conceded today.
Two more breaches of permit rules at Cuadrilla fracking site
The Environment Agency (EA) has reported two minor breaches of the Cuadrilla’s environmental permit when it carried out a site visit at Preston New Road in October.
Government ignored new evidence on climate impacts of fracking – court told
The government ignored new science on the climate change impact of shale gas sites when it revised planning policy on fracking, the High Court in London heard today.
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