7/2/14 Less than a third of people support fracking for shale gas, according to the latest survey of public attitudes commissioned by the Department for Energy and Climate Change. Just 27 per cent of the 2,110 people surveyed said they supported “extracting shale gas to generate the UK’s […]
10/2/14 The onshore oil and gas industry appears to be shying away from public debate, despite making promises to engage with local communities. Member companies of the UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG) have signed up to a Community Engagement Charter, which pledges “openness and transparency in everything we […]
6/2/14 Sussex police says it hopes an external review of the policing operation at last year’s Balcombe anti-fracking protests will be completed in “the next few weeks”. The review into Operation Mansell is currently being carried out by Hertfordshire Constabulary. The Sussex Chief Constable Martin Richards told the […]
4/2/14 The economic affairs committee of the House of Lords could be forgiven for being more confused after hearing from the Chancellor, George Osborne, this afternoon (4/2/14) than they were before he arrived. The committee has been investigating the likely impact of a shale gas industry on the […]
Cuadrilla Resources has announced two new fracking sites near Blackpool: Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road near Little Plumpton. In a statement issued today (4/2/14), the company said it will apply for planning permission to drill, hydraulically fracture and test the flow of gas from up to four […]
4/2/14 David Cameron’s message “We going all out for shale” doesn’t appear to have support in all parts of his government. The business secretary, Vince Cable, told today’s Guardian “Shale gas is a long-term possibility – no more than that.” He said the real future for oil and […]
3/2/14 Greenpeace reported today that a group of Sussex residents have formed the first legal blockade to stop a drilling site. The charity says solicitors acting on behalf of the residents have written to the Energy Secretary, Ed Davey, and the exploration company, Celtique Energie, to say they […]
3/2/14 The chief constable of Sussex Police, Martin Richards, has said the nearly £4m cost of policing last year’s anti-fracking protests at Balcombe was “value for money”. In an interview with the Mid Sussex Times, he explained: “The public suffered no real serious injury, protestors were allowed to […]
Transcripts of this week’s parliamentary questions on Drilling without consent, Alternative energy strategies to fracking Funding for the Environment Agency Flaring on shale gas sites With thanks to http://www.theyworkforyou.com 30/1/14 Question from Jim Cunningham (Coventry South, Labour) What is the Government’s policy towards permitting fracking operators to drill […]
The Crown Prosecution Service has revealed details of more cases arising from the Balcombe anti-fracking protests that have been dropped before reaching trial. Earlier this month, we reported information from Sussex Police, which said 21 people had their cases discontinued by the police before they were charged and […]