Coal Authority changes policy on responding to shale gas plans in mining areas
Shale gas companies must show they have considered how drilling could affect old mining features in coalfield areas, according to revised advice on exploration plans.
Guest post: Government recruits fracking commissioner to “facilitate communication” with residents
By Chloe Farand, DeSmog UK. The UK government is recruiting a shale gas commissioner to “facilitate communication” with residents and promote what is sees as the benefits of a new fossil fuel industry. The position was announced days before the government gave the go-ahead for fracking to start in Lancashire.
Government presses ahead with planning policy changes on oil and gas – despite “limited support”
The government has made changes to national planning policy on onshore oil and gas even though most of the people who took part in a consultation disagreed with them.
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.
Updated: Cuadrilla to take action against first challenge to fracking protest injunction
Six anti-fracking protesters locked themselves together outside Cuadrilla’s Lancashire fracking site this morning in the first challenge to the company’s protest injunction. Cuadrilla has said it is taking legal action against them.
Harthill villager seeks legal challenge to Ineos shale gas consent
A resident of the South Yorkshire village of Harthill has taken the first step in an attempt to overturn the planning permission for Ineos’s local shale gas scheme.
Government seeks views on proposals to bypass local council control of shale gas schemes
Two consultations opened this afternoon on government proposals to fast-track decisions on shale gas developments in England.
Cuadrilla completes second shale gas well and prepares to frack as hosepipe ban is announced
Cuadrilla said this morning it had finished drilling the UK’s second horizontal shale gas well and would soon prepare for hydraulic fracturing at the site in Lancashire. The announcement coincided with news that a hose pipe ban for residents in the county would begin on 5 August.
No new exploration licences and no support for fracking – Welsh Government proposes
The Welsh Government is consulting on its new policy to oppose fracking and any further oil and gas exploration.
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.
DRILL OR DROP? 