Fast track fracking proposals undermine democracy and bypass scrutiny, MPs told
Government proposals designed to speed-up fracking decisions are unclear, inappropriate and unjustified, a group of planning experts have said.
Updated: Campaign groups join appeal over fracking protest sentences
The campaign groups, Friends of the Earth and Liberty, has been granted permission to intervene in the case of three anti-fracking protesters who are appealing today against their prison sentences.
Campaigners assemble model rig outside government department in protest at shale gas planning changes
Opponents of government plans to fast-track shale gas exploration assembled a 4m model drilling rig in Westminster this morning.
Updated: Campaigners seek appeal against UKOG injunction
Update on 5/9/2018 The deputy judge hearing the UKOG injunction case has refused leave to appeal. A statement from the court sent on 4 September 2018 said: “The Deputy Judge has now had the opportunity to consider the above two applications and he has decided that both applications […]
UK councils invest £9bn of pension funds in fracking companies – new research
Data released today suggests that UK councils have invested more than £9 billion from staff pension funds in fracking companies, despite opposition to the process.
Campaigners calls for ban on acid stimulation of onshore oil and gas wells
Friends of the Earth has called for a ban on the use of acid to stimulate the flow of oil and gas in onshore wells.
Most Tory councillors oppose government changes to shale gas planning rules – survey
A survey out today has found that 80% of Conservative councillors in areas where fracking companies have a licence to explore for shale gas believe that planning applications should be required before drilling.
Cuadrilla granted fracking consent for UK’s first horizontal shale gas well
The government has granted final consent for fracking at the UK’s first horizontal shale gas well at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site in Lancashire.
Local authorities are best placed to decide on fracking plans – MPs report
Moving decisions on fracking plans to a national level contradicts the principles of localism and would probably exacerbate mistrust between communities and the industry, MPs said today.
Slow walking protests are “unreasonable and wrongful”, oil company tells High Court
The exploration company, UK Oil and Gas, has defended its injunction which seeks to outlaw the protest tactic of slow walking.
