Review of 2014
Catch up on the headlines with our quick review of fracking and onshore oil and gas news from 2014. Click here for our more detailed month-by-month round-up of the year, with links to posts and source material.
Ban fracking until human rights impact is known, Bianca Jagger to urge PM
The human rights campaigner, Bianca Jagger, will deliver a report to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (26/11/14) urging the UK Government to investigate the human rights impact of fracking.
Ban fracking until human rights impacts understood, Bianca Jagger urges UK government
The human rights campaigner, Bianca Jagger, has called on the UK government to ban fracking until there is an understanding of its effects on human rights.
Government accused of relying on industry to regulate fracking
Labour accused the government yesterday of taking a “lackadaisical” approach to regulating fracking by relying on voluntary agreements with the industry.
Another no—show by the industry for a fracking debate
15th July 2014 Another attempt at a balanced debate on hydraulic fracturing failed tonight because the pro-frackers again declined to take part.
Plans to restrict judicial review dropped
7/2/14 The government has dropped its plans to restrict campaigners from challenging planning decisions through the courts. The Minister of Justice (MoJ) recently consulted on a proposal to limit those eligible to take out a judicial review. But this was not included in the government’s response to the […]
Bigger funding cuts at the Environment Agency and greater cuts to services
Environment Data Services (ENDS) Report revealed today (17/1/14) that the Environment Agency has had its budget cut by £10m more than expected. The Environment Agency (EA) will receive £397.4m of revenue funding from the government for the year 2014-15, down from £467m in 2013-14. According to ENDS, the […]
Government fracking promise – bribe or pathetic crumbs from the Treasury’s table?
David Cameron announced this morning that councils would be able to keep 100% of business rates they collect from shale gas sites, up from the current figure of 50%. Speaking in Lincolnshire, he said this could be worth up to £1.7 million a year for a typical fracking […]
Government considers higher payments to fracking communities
The Times reports (9/1/14) the Government is prepared to give communities near fracking sites a bigger share of the proceeds, following pressure from backbench Conservative MPs. The paper said ministers are willing to reconsider the present proposals for community benefits which would give local groups 1 per cent […]
What do the Lib Dems really think about fracking?
On September 15th, the Lib Dem conference passed several motions on fracking. They were part of the party’s policy on transition to a zero carbon Britain. The motions on fracking (F10 4m and 4n) committed the party to: 4 (m) Limiting shale gas exploration until it has been shown […]
DRILL OR DROP? 