Monthly Archives: July 2014

The Chartered Institute for Environmental Health (CIEH), which represents Environmental Health Officers, has urged Local Authorities to oppose fracking until they are fully confident about the health risks to people and the environment.

They’ve said there are “major shortcomings” with the regulation of shale gas and there is currently not enough evidence to be sure that fracking is safe.

The report suggested that shale gas was unlikely to displace coal, and would contribute to, rather than help tackle, climate change.

It concludes: “The combination of weak regulation, diminishing resources within regulatory bodies, inexperience of industry and regulators, lack of an appropriate monitoring framework, poor industry compliance and potential conflicts of interest within the planning regime is disquieting”.

Thanks to Ruth Hayhurst for the information.  Read her full report here.

Tory-controlled West Sussex County Council’s Planning Committee has refused Celtique Energy’s application for planning permission for a temporary well off Kirdford Road near Northup Copse.

This is an important milestone in the campaign against fracking – it’s the first council in England to turn down an application for exploratory shale oil drilling.

Local residents had campaigned hard against this application, in particular highlighting the impacts of the heavy lorries involved in fracking in this rural area.

The committee refused permission on traffic grounds and as it felt Celtique had not demonstrated the location was the best option compared to alternatives.

Read more:

Friends of the Earth report

West Sussex County Times report