The energy minister, Michael Fallon, said he would do anything he could to remove barriers to shale gas exploration and increase the pace of development. He was giving evidence to the House of Lords economic affairs committee which is carrying out an inquiry into the shale gas industry. […]
The UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG), which represents oil and gas companies, announced this morning it was setting up a pilot phase of its community benefits scheme for shale gas exploration sites. This will provide £100,000 to a local community once planning consent for a site has been […]
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 […]
23/12/13 George Brown acquitted of an offence under Section 4 of the Public Order Act after a trial at Horsham Magistrates Court. 21/12/13 Alice O’Keeffe writes in The Guardian about her experience of the climate camp at Balcombe in August.
Wales Online reports that anti-fracking campaigners in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales have been getting protest advice from Balcombe. They are fighting plans by Coastal Oil and Gas, which has permission to test drill in four sites, including Llantrithyd, near Cowbridge. Last week, villagers from Llantrithyd […]
There’s continuing uncertainty about the future impact of unconventional oil and gas sites on house prices and mortgage lending. Last week, Henry Smith, MP for Crawley, raised the issue in parliament after Santander withdrew a mortgage offer to one of his constituents on a house six miles from […]
The Energy Minister Michael Fallon has welcomed the report by Public Health England on the impact of fracking on people’s health and the environment. The report, issued yesterday, said fracking was likely to be low risk but it called for good onsite management and appropriate regulation. Mr Fallon said: “I […]
The European Parliament has voted to make environmental impact assessments compulsory before fracking can go ahead. Under the current Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, many shale gas projects have avoided the need for an EIA because they extract less than 500,000 cubic metres a day. MEPs, who are reviewing the directive, […]
A geophysicist has questioned government assurances fracking is unlikely to contaminate groundwater supplies. David Smythe, Emeritus Professor of Geophysics at the University of Glasgow, told a public debate on fracking in Lewes the assurances were informed by evidence from the US that was not relevant to Britain. Professor […]
West Sussex County Council confirms it is asking the remaining anti-fracking campaigners outside Cuadrila’s Balcombe site to go home. The designated protest area established outside the site last month has been removed. The council says it wants to reinstate the protest area because it is concerned about the […]
DRILL OR DROP? 