Government to ban fracking in protected areas with a drilling licence condition
The government is proposing to ban fracking from the surface of England’s best natural and landscape areas. Details here
Ryedale council votes for 5-year ban on fracking
The North Yorkshire council which includes the village where Third Energy has applied to frack voted this evening for a five-year moratorium on the technique.
Edinburgh geology professor calls for fracking ban to investigate risks of faults
As Lancashire councillors prepare to decide on Cuadrilla’s fracking applications, a senior academic has called for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing until more information is known about the risks of contamination.
Greenpeace anti-fracking advert banned
Greenpeace has been censured for an advert which said fracking would not cut energy bills. The organisation has described the decision as “baseless, biased and bonkers”.
Government rejects MPs’ call for fracking ban
The government has rejected arguments for a moratorium on fracking and stricter regulation made by MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee.
Health charity calls for immediate ban on fracking over “serious health risks”
A new report by the health professionals’ charity, Medact, has concluded that fracking for shale gas poses significant risks to public health. The report, published today, calls for an immediate five-year moratorium to allow for an assessment of the effects on health and the environment.
Guest post: Fracking creeps closer to Ryedale
In this guest post, Tim Thornton reports from Tuesday’s extra-ordinary meeting of Ryedale District Council, organised to debate a motion calling for a ban on fracking. This was Tim Thornton’s first attendance at a council meeting. At the end of a long evening he felt that more needs […]
Ryedale council rejects blanket fracking ban but warns “concerns must be resolved”
Councillors in Ryedale in North Yorkshire failed to back a motion opposing all fracking in the district. But they warned they would not support applications for fracking if public concerns about its potential damage were not resolved.
MPs call for halt to fracking because of risks to climate and environment
A committee of MPs called today for a moratorium on fracking in the UK. The cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) said fracking was inconsistent with the UK’s legal duties to limit global climate change.It also said fracking should be halted because of uncertainties about other risks to the environment.
Crunch week ahead for fracking
Both sides in the fracking debate are lobbying hard as they go into a crucial week. Growing numbers of MPs are backing calls for a moratorium ahead of the first vote on fracking by the House of Commons. Cuadrilla is offering to spend millions to get its planning […]
DRILL OR DROP? 