13th March 2014 A group of wildlife and countryside organisations says current regulations for unconventional fossil fuel development are not strong enough to prevent damage and it calls for a permanent ban on fracking in all protected areas. The group, which includes National Trust, RSPB and the Wildlife […]
12th March 2014 An anti-fracking activist who climbed a 6m scaffolding tripod to block the road outside Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site at Balcombe was found guilty of obstructing the highway this afternoon. But the judge imposed the minimum penalty after hearing that Jamie Spiers had given up the […]
11th March 2014 Noise, lighting, traffic and the impact on the natural beauty of the High Weald are the key concerns of organisations responding to Cuadrilla’s application to flow test its oil exploration well at Balcombe. As the consultation period comes to an end, InvestigatingBalcomeAndCuadrilla.com has been analysing […]
Public Health England (PHE) has called for more controls on testing Cuadrilla’s oil exploration well at Balcombe to protect people from possible pollution threats. Responding to the company’s latest planning application, the organisation (established last year to protect and improve the nation’s health) recommended: Further checks on the […]
New Scientist magazine says the Balcombe area of West Sussex could be one of the best places to drill for onshore oil after a study of shale rock throughout England. The study’s leader, Alastair Fraser, of Imperial College London, told the magazine: “Our analysis highlights the Balcombe area […]
7th March 2014 A man arrested at the Balcombe anti-fracking protests for walking his dog in front of a police escort has had his case adjourned again – this time because lawyers involved in the case were on strike. Nick Ward made the 100 mile journey from his […]
6th March 2014 Anti-fracking campaigners today challenged an attempt by the commercial landowner Peel to evict them from a 3m strip of land near the iGas exploratory drilling site at Barton Moss in Salford.
6th March 2014 Polls by a BBC TV programme and a regional newspaper both recorded a majority against fracking, but with very different margins.
3rd March 2014 1. Balcombe: end of public consultation approaches WSCC/005/14/BA application by Cuadrilla Balcombe Ltd There are 10 days left for people to respond to Cuadrilla’s application to flow test and monitor its oil exploration well at Lower Stumble. (The consultation period ends on 13th March 2014).
2nd March 2014 As the shale gas industry acknowledges that local antagonism may its biggest challenge, guest writer Paul Seaman looks at what drives opposition and how the companies respond. A recent survey on attitudes in oil and gas companies found that 55% of the industry believed local […]
DRILL OR DROP? 