Working to protect the Water, Air, Soil, Ecology, Homes and Public Health of Sussex. Raising awareness about the dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing or 'Fracking'.
MAY 9th- the House of Lords published a new report on fracking. The verdict? That we should power up the drills and get drilling for gas!
But a bit of scratching beneath the surface reveals a problem with the report -- a bunch of the authors have links to the fracking industry.
Biased, much?
Thank You Greenpeace for this report.
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/newsdesk/energy/news/who-are
West Sussex County Council has approved Cuadrilla’s application to drill again in Balcombe (29 April).
Only one councillor, Sue Mullins, objected. This is despite around 900 letters of objection to the planning application from residents and local authorities including Balcombe Parish Council. So why is WSCC disregarding the wishes of the majority of people in Balcombe? Is it possible that their lack of concern for democracy and the health and welfare of the people of Sussex is because they have pension investments of £3.5 million in Cuadrilla partner Centrica? Surely there is a conflict of interest here?
C. Barker
http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/letters/letter-surely-there-is-a-conflict-of-interest-1-6045985
BREAKING: Fracking company IGas to buy Dart Energy - giving the company the UK's largest licence coverage of over a million acres.
http://www.investegate.co.uk/igas-energy-plc--igas-/rns/acquisition/201405090931117037G/
Thanks to Frack Off (UK) for all this information:
"Both companies have been hounded by community resistance over the last 6 months. IGas suffered over 3 months of delays and closures at their Barton Moss site, Greater Manchester where over £1.6million in policing costs were required to complete the drilling operation.
Dart especially has been on the back-foot, having been driven out of Australia, denied planning for their flagship Scottish operation and now facing a permanent resident encampment on the only land in England for which have full-permission to drill."
You can see all licences and permissions for both companies here: http://frack-off.org.uk/extreme-energy-fullscreen/
Latest from Upton Community Protection Camp: https://www.facebook.com/UptonProtection?fref=ts
Read about Dart's plans for Cheshire, Wrexham and Notts: http://frack-off.org.uk/dart-frack-attack-multi-well-program-in-midlands/
New UK fracking licenses confirmed: http://frack-off.org.uk/new-uk-fracking-licenses-confirmed/
A letter by Cuadrilla now released into the Public Domain, having been used as an exhibit in recent Court proceedings, confirms that Cuadrilla contacted the DECC in 2011 admitting that in order to achieve commercial production, they would need to use hydraulic fracturing/fracking technology in the Weald Basin.
Despite two Freedom of Information Act requests* for details of the correspondence between the DECC and Cuadrilla Resources Ltd, the DECC appeared to have no knowledge of their own communications, yet the document had already been submitted as an exhibit in the Court proceedings.
The letter (see attachment) dated 10th June 2011 from Andrew Price, a Director at Bolney Resources Ltd (which became Cuadrilla Balcombe Ltd in April 2013) requested more time from the DECC to explore the Lower Stumble site at Balcombe. Due to suspension of operations because of the seismic activity they had triggered in Lancashire in April & May 2011, Cuadrilla would not otherwise have been able to fulfil its contractual obligation to commence drilling on time.
Andrew Price wrote to the DECC stating: "[….] In order for Bolney to be successful in its Weald Basin Kimmeridge Oil Shale project (KOSP), Bolney will need to rely, to a significant degree on being able to undertake hydraulic fracture stimulation(s) of this unconventional reservoir."
[….] Until it is determined that hydraulic fracture operations can be conducted in the area covered by the PEDL [Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence] Bolney requests that the undertaking to drill or drop, that has to be given by the licensee before 20th June 2011, be extended until the end of the Initial Term.
"Bolney's exploration plan (and reason for acquiring a 75% interest in the PEDL) has always been to drill (a) well(s) (vertical and/or horizontal) targeting the Kimmeridge Shale and to hydraulically fracture stimulate several select intervals within this unconventional reservoir in order to establish commercial production rates and to develop a significant recoverable resource. Without the ability to undertake hydraulic fracture operations Bolney will not be able to attempt to achieve commercial production"
Louisa Delpy, Balcombe resident said:
"This is proof of Cuadrilla's true intention regarding Balcombe and the Weald - they always intended to frack. Whilst our County Councillors continue to ignore the cumulative effect of granting planning permission for flow testing in Balcombe the unconventional rocks will eventually require stimulation and fracturing for production in the Weald.
I am disappointed that the two detailed FOIs I submitted to DECC seem to have missed this letter, and wonder what else has been missed when I have asked for further information from our gold standard, fully transparent, regulatory agencies."
Frack Free Sussex believes this evidence gives further weight to the public’s deep suspicion of Cuadrilla and of the company’s claims about future intentions at Balcombe:
“This document raises several serious questions both for local residents and for people across the country.
As the Balcombe site was not a viable production site in the 1980s, using conventional extraction methods such as those used at Singleton near Goodwood and Storrington - how can it suddenly be viable now?
Why does the DECC not seem to be aware of their own correspondence with the operator?
Why was the document not revealed through a Freedom of Information Act request to a local resident?
The document clearly states that Cuadrilla acquired the site in order to frack it and that it will not become commercially viable without doing so. Which rather begs the question as to why a company would continue a costly operation which is not going to be making them money.
Lord Browne said to me in person on 5th December 2013:
'Cuadrilla is not going to fracture in Balcombe. It never has and it's said it's not going to do that'
Who is being deliberately misinformed here – the investors? Or the public?”
- Vanessa Vine, Frack Free Sussex
Lord Browne quote - Footage: @50.40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co1UrP_T1oA
*First FOI request: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pedl244_correspondence#incoming-499020
Request: I would like to request all correspondence between DECC and Bolney Resources and/or Cuadrilla Resources in June 2011 relating to the PEDL 244 license and hydraulic stimulating/fracturing.
Response: "I can confirm that the Department does not hold any information which falls within the scope of your request."
Second FOI request: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bolney_resources_limited_corresp#incoming-510981
Request: "I would like to request all correspondence between Toni Harvey at DECC and Bolney Resources Limited and/or Cuadrilla Resources in June 2011 and July 2011."
Response: Emails relating to flowback and data study released
These are just some of the incidences of water contamination that #FrackDealers like Lord Browne and Peter Lilley like to tell us are not happening.
A map of Six counties in Northeast Pennsylvania showing where people have made complaints about water contamination.
It's a "log scale", so each color change is about double the previous.
Yellow is 1 complaint per township, red is 16-32 complaints.
This data is directly from PA Dept. of Environmental Protection.
It's very hard to believe, but the US media is not reporting the truth. The PA DEP is in denial. The gas industry keeps saying "not one case..."
This map shows 313 cases JUST IN 6 COUNTIES.
Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association said it was meeting lawyers next week to see if there were grounds for a judicial review of the WSCC decision.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-27239758
A frack dealer is frack dealer - a peerage disguises nothing.
Days after a YouGov poll revealed 74% of Britons oppose plans to allow fracking firms to drill under people's homes without their permission ... A House of Lords committee has urged changes in the law to fast-track fracking and ensure property owners cannot delay drilling under their land.
The economic affairs committee (EAC) is also demanding ministers set up a special cabinet committee on the issue and make it a "national priority" to sell the benefits of shale gas to a sceptical British public.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/may/08/energy-industry-shale-gas
Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace UK, said: "Fracking is a non-solution – it won't deliver for many years, if ever. The real urgent national priority is to push ahead with the renewable technology and efficiency measures which would much more rapidly address the security issues flagged up by the Ukraine crisis.
"The Lords spent seven months cherry-picking the wafer-thin evidence that fits a foregone conclusion about the benefits of shale gas. This is just more taxpayer-funded cheerleading from unelected politicians who seem all too happy to ignore the country's legitimate concerns about fracking.
"On one page the lords are saying public concerns should be taken seriously, on the other they urge the government to strip people of their right to say no to fracking firms planning to drill under their homes – a move opposed by three quarters of British people."
"PHE's report [health impacts of shale gas], which arguably has infringed our civil rights and their own codes of practice, amounts to gross scientific misconduct. As such it undermines the very purpose of PHE's existence - to protect the nation's public health and well-being."
"Public Health England is guilty of gross scientific misconduct for its apparently deliberate whitewashing of the public health impacts of fracking. But it's all part of a pattern of maladministration that reaches to the heart of government ..."
- Paul Mobbs.
Finally hitting the mainstream media is the news that Councils across the UK have a conflict of interest by investing pension funds in the same companies wanting to frack....
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-local-authorities-have-conflict-of-interest-on-fracking-investments-9294590.html
Oh dear, seems West Sussex County Council has indirect holdings in Cuadrilla via substantial investments, currently worth £3.5m, in Centrica, the parent company of British Gas – which last year took a 25 per cent stake in Cuadrilla's Lancashire operations.
Could this be why they have recommended Cuadrilla's Balcombe reapplication for approval despite overwhelming public opposition?
Surely not ...
THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990
COUNTY MATTER MINERAL APPLICATION
Application No: WSCC/005/14/BA
Proposal: Temporary permission for exploration and appraisal comprising the flow testing and monitoring of the existing hydrocarbon lateral borehole along with site security fencing, the provision of an enclosed testing flare and site restoration.
Location: Lower Stumble Hydrocarbon Exploration Site, London Road, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6JH
District: Mid Sussex District Council
Grid Ref: 531022 129238
"It is manifestly clear that local government is representing neither the wishes nor the best interests of local people or wild ecology. WSCC is invested in this industry through pension funds, through Centrica. Something is very very wrong and people are very very angry.
889 objections, 9 people said they wanted it, a 5000+ plus signature petition and 60+ page document from the Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association .. All detailed, articulate, inarguable information dismissed, disregarded. They had already made their decision
It is manifestly clear that there is no democracy - local or otherwise. So long as the fossil fuel industry is pulling the strings of politicians we're in serious trouble. It's clear that there's a political mania to force this through - right from the top down to County Councils, maybe even Parish Councils- although the Balcombe Parish Council in this instance recommended against it in this instance
They are very very foolish they've completely underestimated the response of local people and what will happen.
It leaves us nowhere to go within their law. They talk about what is lawful and what is unlawful and "breaking" the law. As far as I'm concerned, we have to put the Lore back into the Law - because what they are doing contravenes natural law. It threatens my community, it threatens me personally and it threatens my son ..."
Vanessa Vine, Frack Free Sussex
"It's going to be a huge industrialisation of our countryside. We're fighting not just for Balcombe but for the Weald, and for the rest of the country. We will continue to fight. There comes a point where you have to glue yourself to something, and I've come to that point."
-Kathryn McWhirter, Balcombe resident..
.. after the debacle of the West Sussex County Council meeting to "discuss" Cuadrilla's application to re-commence Balcombe operations - but where both the wishes and best interests of Sussex residents were utterly disregarded and the decision to grant permission had clearly already been made.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/apr/29/cuadrilla-green-light-oil-test-balcombe
BARTON MOSS PROTECTOR JAILED.
Kate went back to the site on the final week of the Camp to help clear up and was also arrested for breeching bail conditions – but was remanded in custody, firstly for two and a half weeks, and, yesterday, for over five months, making a total of over six months until his trial on October 9th.
The judge’s decision provoked outrage and shock, as the original offence apparently wouldn’t have carried anything like a six month custodial sentence, even if proved guilty."
http://frackingdangerous.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/frackings-first-political-prisoner/
@29.4.14: Kate McCann, has appallingly been remanded in custody in Birmingham for six months. All he did was to breach bail in order to help clear up the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp, having previously merely exercised his right to peaceful protest and done several lock-ons to delay drill-supply trucks. #IdleNoMore #InvestorRemovalTeam.
You can follow/support developments here: https://www.facebook.com/Justice4kateMcCann?notif_t=fbpage_fan_invite
And if anyone has a moment to send him a card or letter of support, it would give him a great boost.
Here is the postal address : K McCann, A5601DE, Wing A311, HM Prison, Winson Green Rd, BIRMINGHAM, West Midlands, B18 4AS.
Please be careful what you write, as it could have repercussions on Kate or yourself if deemed "inappropriate" by the Prison Censor. They WILL read all mail.
Pictures of one of his actions linked here, which delayed trucks by over 6 hours: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=717276871626772&set=t.100000333964204&type=3&theater
The fracks in local democracy.
Despite a petition of nearly five and a half thousand signatures, despite over 850 objections - West Sussex County Council chose to ignore the material objection that Cuadrilla has no social licence to be in Balcombe. Well informed and well researched speeches were delivered by residents, which only served to highlight the obvious lack of reading and thought that the voting councillors (with the exception of one – thank you Sue Mullins) had put into this planning meeting. It is a sad day for democracy when the committee, like every other body involved in this process from the EA to the DECC, dismisses some of the most serious concerns as ‘not in their remit’. Then whose responsibility are these concerns? It shows a ridiculous lack of foresight, when an exploration company is allowed to have its process considered piecemeal in separate planning applications, without considering the end-game of oil production close to residents. Thus, each new application is in part validated by the fact that the previous one was approved. Very clever Lord Browne!
Back to our WSCC committee of elected representatives – evidence of health risks from flaring? Not their concern. Cuadrilla’s own researchers admit fluid can migrate up to 5000ft along fault plains and intend to put fluid down an uncased lateral borehole in a highly faulted area, within 1600ft of the aquifer- apparently nobody’s concern. Cuadrilla failed to include certain gases in their models of flaring emissions; have lost air samples and failed to consider the contour of the land so that the flare will actually just pump chemicals straight into our village (Lower Stumble is lower than Balcombe remember) -apparently nobody’s concern. Then of course there are the regulatory bodies that are supposed to protect us, but instead make assumptions that Cuadrilla has effectively self-regulated, which we know from past history that they have not. The HSE for example, have admitted they made no onsite checks of the well, yet this is part of their own best practice to ensure well failure does not occur. The WSCC and EA have then based their own permits on the idea that the well is, in fact, sound. This cannot be guaranteed, and as we have seen in Singleton, well failure does happen. Again - apparently nobody’s concern. Climate change? Clearly nobody’s concern, and certainly not the government’s, who admit climate change is occurring in one breath whilst redirecting subsidies away from renewables and into onshore oil and gas with the other. At what cost do we want our energy? We can only hope now, that an educated public will use their votes wisely.
Helen Savage, Balcombe
BRIEFING FOR LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL: "You can be in favour of fixing the climate. Or you can be in favour of exploiting shale gas. But you can’t be in favour of both at the same time."
http://www.e3g.org/docs/Briefing_for_Lancashire_County_Council.pdf
John Ashton is an independent commentator and adviser on the politics of climate change. From 2006-12 he served as Special Representative for Climate Change to three successive UK Foreign Secretaries, spanning the current Coalition and the previous Labour Government. He was a cofounder and, from 2004-6, the first Chief Executive of the think tank E3G. From 1978-2002, after a brief period as a research astronomer, he was a career diplomat, with a particular focus on China.
John is a Fellow of the European Climate Foundation; a Non Executive Director of E3G; a visiting professor at the London University School of Oriental and African Studies; a Distinguished Policy Fellow at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College; and a Trustee of the UK Youth Climate Coalition and Tipping Point.
Every campaigner around the world has been saying this .... WELLS LEAK. CEMENTATION FAILS. STEEL CORRODES. The term being used by the industry and Government of 'low risk if best available techniques are used' is not good enough. LOW RISK IS NOT SAFE.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/25/fracking-safety-oil-gas-report
"Sussex is still a rural county, with a diverse landscape and a rich wildlife. Fracking could result in the industrialisation of Sussex. Perhaps a more significant threat, however, is that we are all being diverted. At a time when we should be talking about more modern alternative energy sources – renewables – we are instead wasting time discussing a carbon-based fuel which, if we are to prevent catastrophic climate change, should remain in the ground."
On March 24th Caroline Lucas goes on trial in Brighton following her arrest at Balcombe Community Protection Camp last August.
Brighton Action Against Fracking and Frack Free Sussex plan to organise various media friendly events to coincide with this: https://www.facebook.com/events/602636849822408/
WE will outside Brighton law courts on Monday and throughout the week holding 40 yellow 'lock the gate' triangles we've had produced with help from ecotricity. Each one has the name of a regional anti-fracking group on it. It should create a great impression for all those press pics! PLEASE tell your friends and lets MAKE A SCENE!!!!
PLEASE SHARE far and wide: https://www.facebook.com/events/602636849822408/
Boots on the ground urgently needed, this is crucial - and don't think it doesn't affect you. Several people in this footage were injured by the Greater Manchester Police this morning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSjHBsD-zaY&feature=youtu.be .. because not enough of us are there making a stand. #InvestorRemovalTeam
If you're still labouring under the illusion that we live in a democracy and that our government is acting on our behalf - independent of vicious and ecocidal corporate interests - think again.
This isn't only our health and wild ecology at stake, it is our freedom. So long as the oil and gas cartels control this planet, we will never have democracy.
Wake up world.
ReTweet: https://twitter.com/vanessa_vine/status/444109601739243520/photo/1
Some brief personal testimonial video clips ..
http://youtu.be/Z6JQKR_X-iU
http://youtu.be/dOyPMXR8HbA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVj-2N8sTL0
Although very relevant to Councils due to the conflict of interest, how many people really think about where their pension fund in invested? We were shocked to find out about the Council pension investments by West Sussex, Kent and Greater Manchester Councils.
To lobby your pension fund company directly using this website:
http://action.shareaction.org/page/content/greentlightlanding/
If you are a stakeholder in a Council pension, write to your Union and your employer... why are YOU supporting this?!
On West Sussex County Council's website it states: "The Pensions Panel has directed the fund managers, in acting in the best financial interests of the scheme, to consider, amongst other factors, the effects of social, environmental and ethical issues of the performance of a company when considering the acquisition, retention or realisation of investments for the scheme."
News sources:
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2295694/planners_pension_funds_set_to_win_from_fracking_permissions.html
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11038176.West_Sussex_council_invests_in_fracking_firms/
http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Kent-s-pension-links-fracking-firms-revealed/story-19939601-detail/story.html
"We feel we must stand up for the future of our village, but also for the other communities in Britain who will soon be cursed by the thread of fracking. We want our green and pleasant land protected for our lovely grandchildren and other youngsters. We can't just stand back and let it happen."
- James Bolam, Actor, resident of Wisborough Green.
He and his wife Susan Jameson are prepared to be on the frontline alongside the hundreds of neighbours outraged at a proposed drilling site a mile from the centre of their village.
Keep Kirdford and Wisborough Green website: http://www.no-drilling.co.uk/
Campaigners have been working hard to stop an application in its tracks to carry out test drilling in the South Downs National Park. Celtique Energie already have permission to test drill near Billingshurst but due to thousand of objections at a site near Fernhurst the Park Authority are carefully scrutinising this one.
Their application at a site between Wisborough Green and Kirdford has also been delayed and we are waiting for a further consultation to open in March once they submit more details to West Sussex Council.
Thanks to all who sent in objections
http://foe.co.uk/news/spanner-works-south-downs-frackers
South Downs National Park Authority chief executive Trevor Beattie broke the news last night at a public information meeting in Chichester on the hydraulic fracturing process.
Celtique Energie has applied to the SDNPA for permission for an exploratory drill at the West Sussex village.
However, Mr Beattie revealed ‘significant details’ had been admitted from the Celtique’s environmental statement.
“I can therefore announce tonight that the national park will be submitting a request for further information under regulation 22 of the town and country planning (environmental impact assessment) regulations 2011.
“This will, in effect, put the Fernhurst application on hold while the applicant provides the additional information we require.”
He told assembled residents this would likely mean the SDNPA’s planning committee was unlikely to consider the application until the summer.
“I pledge to you that the scrutiny, will be close, expert and intense,” he said.
“That’s why we have a national park. That’s the value that the national park adds. Our precious landscape demands no less.”
Celtique’s environmental statement was apparently missing details on noise, hydrology and geology information and engineering aspects associated with borehole integrity, well drilling, well casing and testing.
In response to a resident’s question, Mr Beattie defended the SDNPA’s approach to considering applications.
“It’s absolutely not a box-ticking exercise,” he said. “That’s not how it works. It’s about having all the information available to make the right decision and what the park authority is about.
“It’s not ticking boxes. It’s about getting all the information necessary.
“We don’t think we’ve got all the necessary information.”
Article link: http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/local/sdnpa-seeks-more-information-on-fernhurst-fracking-application-1-5876023
This is information about article one
In the USA, towns near fracking sites have seen cancer rates rising, water supplies running out and the poisoning of land, livestock, pets and people by hazardous air pollutants. Water that was once pristine is now so contaminated with methane that it can be set alight. Industry studies show 5-7% of all new oil and gas wells leak and ALL wells will leak eventually.
Our water supply, which comes predominantly from the chalk aquifer, would be threatened.
Property values are falling in areas near drilling sites.
Even the energy secretary says fracking WON’T REDUCE ENERGY BILLS.
Frack Free Sussex
Sort code: 08-92-99
Account: 65733697
The campaign to keep Sussex a healthy and happy place for all of us to live is reliant on all of us! We are not a political organisation and nobody involved gets paid - we do it because we care. Here are the sort of awareness raising activities that your donation could help to pay for:
Posters, information leaflets, flyering
Organising screenings of films such as The Bentley Effect and PowerTrip
Organising public meetings and talks with knowledgeable guest speakers (get in touch)
Web hosting for this website
Getting the Frack Free Sussex information stand to festivals and community events
Advertising to local press
The campaign to prevent fracking and any forms of unconventional drilling ruining our county is made up of an ever growing number of people LIKE YOU! We are fighting against multi-national corporations with millions of pounds to spend on PR so we need you, whatever your skills and expertise.
Event organisers, letter-writers, graphic designers, video-makers, photographers, website builders, persuasive talkers, sign-makers, cake-bakers, tea servers, leaflet handers, media observers, database builders, film showers, nature-lovers, lorry-blockers, T-shirt designers, scientists, economists, environmentalists, musicians, artists....you name it!
Please do what you can or give what you can!