2020 review of the year
2020 was a frack free year in the UK because the shale gas industry failed to persuade ministers to lift blocks on the process.
Regulator gives oil and gas companies more time to meet exploration commitments
The shale gas company, Cuadrilla, has got three more years in which to seek consent for two new wells near Blackpool in Lancashire.
Minister quizzed on Aurora’s fracking withdrawal
The government has been asked what assessment it has made of the decision by Aurora Energy Resources to drop its plans to frack near Formby in Lancashire.
Aurora drops Altcar Moss fracking plans
The would-be shale gas company, Aurora Energy Resources, has withdrawn its planning application to frack near Formby in Lancashire.
Campaigners challenge lockdown rules for council meeting on fracking plans
A campaign group is seeking to overturn council coronavirus arrangements which they say deny them the right to speak in person at a meeting to decide major plans to frack near Formby.
English councils get powers for “virtual” planning meetings
Local authorities in England have been given new powers from tomorrow to hold meetings, including planning committees, by video or telephone conferencing.
Government’s shale support fund underspent by £3.8m
A government fund to help English councils deal with shale gas planning applications appears to have paid out just 20% of what was available.
Campaigners make “strong objection” to Altcar Moss fracking plans
A network of groups opposed to fracking near Formby has called for the scheme to be refused because of concerns about flooding, peat extraction, the green belt, noise, traffic and impacts on wildlife.
Tremors, protests, challenges – eight years of UK fracking
As the government announces a second moratorium on fracking because of earth tremor risks, DrillOrDrop looks back at key events in the past eight years. Please let us know about any important headlines we have missed.
Don’t approve Aurora’s fracking plan, government wildlife expert warns
A plan to drill and frack near important wildlife sites in Sefton and West Lancashire should not be approved, the government’s nature conservation adviser has warned.
