West Sussex seeks to exclude oil and gas drilling from protected landscapes
A new strategy in West Sussex seeks to prevent almost all oil and gas development in the South Downs National Park and the county’s two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Lancashire anti-fracking campaigners receive national environmental justice award
Two opponents of Cuadrilla’s plans to frack in Lancashire have won a national award established in memory of the campaigner, Sheila McKechnie.
Research raises questions over industry payments to shale gas communities
People living near proposed shale gas exploration sites have raised concerns over whether their communities will receive payments promised by the industry.
Reaction to fracking permits for Third Energy
Opponents of fracking have said they’re disappointed that the Environment Agency has granted three environmental permits to Third Energy to frack in North Yorkshire. Supporters of the scheme at Kirby Misperton have welcomed the news. Here’s our round-up of reaction. Link to permit details
Last equipment moved off Rathlin’s Crawberry Hill well site
The last excavator was moved off Rathlin Energy’s Crawberry Hill drilling site in East Yorkshire this afternoon. All the cabins have now gone and a small tarmac access to the field is all that remains of the site, where a well was sunk in 2013.
Permits granted to Third Energy for fracking in N Yorks
The Environment Agency announced this afternoon it has granted permits to Third Energy to allow it to frack for shale gas at the KM8 well at Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire.
Weighing up the evidence in the Cuadrilla fracking inquiry: how do inspectors decide?
The Planning Inspectorate announced this week that the report on the Cuadrilla fracking inquiry would be submitted by early July. The inspector, Wendy McKay, will make a recommendation to the Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, on whether or not Cuadrilla’s shale gas plans in Lancashire should go ahead. But […]
Council calls for mandatory fracking clean-up fund
The shale gas industry should be required to establish a fund for the clean-up of any contamination from fracking, councillors in North Yorkshire have said.
Some fracking controls now in force – but not all
Rules on fracking, set out in the Infrastructure Act, came into force today. They are in section 50 of the act, which sets the depth at which fracking is prohibited and creates an official definition based on the volume of fluid used. The rules also identify requirements that […]
INEOS plans private shale gas meetings for parish councillors
INEOS is promoting its view of the benefits of shale gas to parish and town councils in its English exploration areas at a series of daytime meetings next month. Opponents of the company’s activities have described the meetings as a “sham consultation” and “a slick PR exercise”. They […]
DRILL OR DROP? 