A round-up of fracking news from February 2014. 28/2/14A freedom of information request to the Department of Energy and Climate Change confirms that Cuadrilla did not seismic surveys at Balcombe. The most recent surveys, according to DECC, were 2d surveys and were carried out in the 1900s
28th February 2014 A freedom of information request has confirmed that Cuadrilla carried out no seismic surveys in the Balcombe area and is relying on data from the 1990s, which one geologist has said is inadequate. Last year, Cuadrilla drilled a vertical and a horizontal oil exploration well […]
28th February 2014 A new report* from the United States has found no comprehensive population-based studies about the effect of fracking on human health, despite broad public concern. The report, in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental science and technology, looked at the available research on the environmental, social and […]
27th February 2014 Two anti-fracking campaigners arrested at the Balcombe protests were convicted this week of the ancient act of besetting. Sussex Police tried to prosecute more than 20 others for the same offence. So is besetting making a comeback and could it be a threat to environmental […]
26th February 2014 Balcombe Parish Council’s Oil Working Group meets today to discuss the village’s future policy on hydrocarbon issues. But how much influence will the council – and local people – have on oil exploration or production in their area? Is there a democratic deficit in decision-making […]
25th February 2014 Yesterday, Balcombe Parish Council published the results of its poll on residents’ attitudes to drilling for oil and gas in the village and potential fracking. 59.8% of the potential 1,507 voters returned the polling card. 60% of respondents were against Cuadrilla returning to Balcombe to flow test […]
25th February 2014 For the past five months, InvestigatingBalcombeAndCuadrilla.com has been trying to find out What do the Lib Dems really think about fracking? The Department for Energy and Climate Change, under Lib Dem Ed Davey, is preparing to sell petroleum exploration and development licences (PEDL) which will […]
25th February 2014 Frack Free Balcombe Residents’ Association is one of the latest organisations to highlight the links between Britain’s onshore oil and gas industry and Chinese investment. The association’s weekly newsletter (number 18) traces the links between Balcombe and Beijing. We’ve converted this into a flow chart. […]
24th February 2014 Balcombe Parish Council today received the results of the latest poll on residents’ attitudes to drilling for oil and gas in the village and potential fracking. The poll, which asked three questions, was conducted by Electoral Reform Services and sent to every Balcombe resident on […]
24th February 2014 Anti-fracking protesters, Natalie Hynde and Simon Medhurst, were found guilty today under an obscure piece of trades union legislation after supergluing themselves around the gate to Cuadrilla’s Balcombe oil exploration site. Miss Hynde, the daughter of singers Chrissie Hynde and Ray Davies, and Mr Medhurst, […]