The veteran environment journalist, Geoffrey Lean, says there is no sign that opposition to fracking is softening in Sussex. This week Mr Lean chaired a meeting between Balcombe villagers and the Environment Agency. He says around 300 people attended the meeting and none of the questions or comments […]
The No Fracking in Balcombe Society urged the government to abandon its support for fracking, following a ruling that the French Government ban can stay in place. The French state had been taken to court by the American oil and gas company, Scheupbach, which claimed the ban contravened the […]
The Guardian reports that the Environment Agency banned Cuadrilla from using a hazardous chemical in its well at Balcombe but gave permission for another substance, despite residents’ concerns. Chris Wick, of the Environment Agency, told a meeting of around 270 Balcombe residents the banned chemical was antimony trioxide, […]
The chair of the Environment Agency, Chris Smith, has assured a Sussex MP that local water will be protected from any pollution caused by fracking at Balcombe or beyond. Lord Smith was responding to concerns raised by Lewes MP, Norman Baker, about the potential expansion of fracking across […]
A further group of anti-fracking campaigners appeared in Crawley Magistrates Court this morning, charged following protests outside the Cuadrilla exploration site at Balcombe. The case against one campaigner was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service. The cases against 11 others were adjourned until October 16th 2013, when they […]
West Sussex County Council confirmed (8/10/10) it is pursuing its legal action to take possession of roadside verges next to Cuadrilla’s exploration site at Balcombe, Anti-fracking campaigners have been camping along the verges since July. Last month, the council applied to the High Court for a possession order […]
The Guardian Diary reports today (8/10/13) it has confirmed, through a Freedom of Information request, that Energy Minister Michael Fallon met Cuadrilla on 24 June 2013, a month before the company got the go-ahead to drill at Balcombe. The Department for Energy and Climate Change could not confirm […]
At least 26 public meetings on fracking will be held in England between September 25th and October 25th 2013 September 25 Fracking in Kent? Meeting, Sheperdswell, Kent, addressed by CPRE Protect Kent September 26 Public meeting, Eccles, organised by Say No to Fracking on Barton Moss September 27 Fracking […]
A majority of people attending a public debate on fracking in Lewes, Sussex, last night (October 7th 2013) opposed the technique for extracting gas or oil. A show of hands at the beginning and end of the event suggested a small number of people were undecided about fracking, […]
West Sussex County Council confirms it is asking the remaining anti-fracking campaigners outside Cuadrila’s Balcombe site to go home. The designated protest area established outside the site last month has been removed. The council says it wants to reinstate the protest area because it is concerned about the […]
DRILL OR DROP? 