1,300+ towns and villages in new drilling licence areas
From Accrington in Lancashire to Yarnbrook in Wiltshire, more than a thousand English towns and villages could be affected by oil and gas exploration under new licences announced last month.
Group seeks court challenge to government fast-track fracking policy
A group opposed to the government’s policy on fast-tracking shale gas planning applications has launched a fundraising bid to mount a legal challenge.
August 2015 fracking headlines
Our digest of August’s headlines about fracking, shale and onshore oil and gas developments – and opposition to them – in the UK and around the world.
Opponents square up on fracking’s new frontline
A pro-fracking newspaper column by Margaret Thatcher’s former press secretary, Bernard Ingham, has provoked an angry reaction from people in Yorkshire.
First stage licences target Midlands, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Three key areas account for most of the first new onshore licences to explore for oil and gas announced today by the government. Of the 27 unveiled at lunchtime, eight are in Lincolnshire, nine in Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire, and four between Sheffield and Leeds.
Breaking: Map of new oil and gas licences
Within the past few minutes, the government released a map of the new onshore oil and gas licences. Link to the map More details soon
14th round: first oil and gas licenses to be announced in August
The Government has announced a timetable for releasing the results of the 14th round of onshore oil and gas licences. A statement on a government webpage (see section headed First tranche of awards) says the awards will be announced in two sections, starting next month. The release of […]
Shale developers need to make the case for fracking – Amber Rudd
The Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd, told MPs yesterday that shale gas developers needed to make the case for fracking to local communities. During a session of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, Mrs Rudd was asked how she would “bridge the gap” between the government’s views on shale […]
Green MP criticises tactics of government u-turn on fracking in wildlife sites
Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, has accused the government of using legislative small print to hide its policy reversal on fracking in important wildlife sites. Ms Lucas said MPs had approved the Infrastructure Bill earlier this year following a promise by Amber Rudd for the […]
Ministers “selling” fracking fail to address public concerns – new research
The government will not win public support for fracking by behaving like a salesperson for the technique, a new study has concluded.
DRILL OR DROP? 