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| Fracking in Tunbridge Wells: 'Where is it going to stop?' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Residents of Kent have reacted angrily to a government announcement that fracking companies will no longer need to ask permission before drilling beneath their homes. | Residents of Kent have reacted angrily to a government announcement that fracking companies will no longer need to ask permission before drilling beneath their homes. |
| In Tunbridge Wells, Sue Reddick, a local housekeeper, said she was shocked to learn the government was preparing to amend trespass laws to allow companies to operate beneath homes without first asking the owner’s permission. | In Tunbridge Wells, Sue Reddick, a local housekeeper, said she was shocked to learn the government was preparing to amend trespass laws to allow companies to operate beneath homes without first asking the owner’s permission. |
| “That is so wrong, especially if it’s near somebody’s home. Why should they keep changing the rules just to suit [the shale industry]?” Reddick said she understood the need for energy, but that “nobody wants [fracking] in their backyard”. | “That is so wrong, especially if it’s near somebody’s home. Why should they keep changing the rules just to suit [the shale industry]?” Reddick said she understood the need for energy, but that “nobody wants [fracking] in their backyard”. |
| Catherine McFaul, a retired accountant and local resident, said that she was not opposed to fracking, but that the removal of landowner’s rights was unfair. | Catherine McFaul, a retired accountant and local resident, said that she was not opposed to fracking, but that the removal of landowner’s rights was unfair. |
| “I don’t think that’s right. They have to ask permission. I’ve spent far too much money on my home. There’s no way I would want anyone to start drilling next to my house without giving me a full report about the safety,” said McFaul. | “I don’t think that’s right. They have to ask permission. I’ve spent far too much money on my home. There’s no way I would want anyone to start drilling next to my house without giving me a full report about the safety,” said McFaul. |
| The law has been used as a way to stop the development of fracking wells, which drill horizontal branches into the shale bed more than a kilometre beneath the surface. | The law has been used as a way to stop the development of fracking wells, which drill horizontal branches into the shale bed more than a kilometre beneath the surface. |
| A British Geological Survey (BGS) report on Friday said that the Weald basin, a Jurassic geological structure stretching from Wiltshire to Kent, between the North and South Downs, contained a large shale oil deposit. | A British Geological Survey (BGS) report on Friday said that the Weald basin, a Jurassic geological structure stretching from Wiltshire to Kent, between the North and South Downs, contained a large shale oil deposit. |
| But in disappointing news for the fracking industry the BGS said there was no potential for shale gas exploration and that much of the oil reserve would be impossible to access. | But in disappointing news for the fracking industry the BGS said there was no potential for shale gas exploration and that much of the oil reserve would be impossible to access. |
| In Tunbridge Wells, one of the towns which sits on the main oil reserve, local people said they were worried not only about the immediate effect on their homes and communities, but that shale production would distract from the ultimate goal of decarbonising the energy system. | In Tunbridge Wells, one of the towns which sits on the main oil reserve, local people said they were worried not only about the immediate effect on their homes and communities, but that shale production would distract from the ultimate goal of decarbonising the energy system. |
| “I prefer the idea of renewables,” said Glen Stokes, a local resident. "In the long term, there’s no other option.” He said that once shale gas companies had a foothold in the region they would not leave. “If they start smashing into the ground then where’s it going to stop?” | “I prefer the idea of renewables,” said Glen Stokes, a local resident. "In the long term, there’s no other option.” He said that once shale gas companies had a foothold in the region they would not leave. “If they start smashing into the ground then where’s it going to stop?” |
| At the edge of the Weald basin in Sevenoaks, the news that the government had increased the compensation drilling companies would be required to give to communities was greeted with enthusiasm by Mike Sutton, a retired photographer. | At the edge of the Weald basin in Sevenoaks, the news that the government had increased the compensation drilling companies would be required to give to communities was greeted with enthusiasm by Mike Sutton, a retired photographer. |
| “They can put their drilling rig in my front garden if they like. I’m on a state pension. Tell me where I’ve got to move to be where they are drilling.” He said the country’s energy security was of greater importance than environmental problems. “Our needs are overriding our more delicate concerns at the moment.” | “They can put their drilling rig in my front garden if they like. I’m on a state pension. Tell me where I’ve got to move to be where they are drilling.” He said the country’s energy security was of greater importance than environmental problems. “Our needs are overriding our more delicate concerns at the moment.” |
| Jackie Mitchem, a local hairdresser, said she thought fracking was important for the UK economy, but she felt wealthy areas like Sevenoaks would reject it. “Its rich enough around here already. I couldn’t see it happening here, there’d be so much uproar.” | Jackie Mitchem, a local hairdresser, said she thought fracking was important for the UK economy, but she felt wealthy areas like Sevenoaks would reject it. “Its rich enough around here already. I couldn’t see it happening here, there’d be so much uproar.” |
| Sevenoaks is the constituency of Michael Fallon, the Conservative energy minister who has championed shale gas. | Sevenoaks is the constituency of Michael Fallon, the Conservative energy minister who has championed shale gas. |
| A couple from nearby Westerham said they were absolutely opposed to the idea and they felt that Fallon would be punished electorally if he was seen to be advocating fracking in his constituency. “It’s only [drilling companies] that benefit. People pay a premium to live here because they want peace and quiet and they want to keep that. I don’t see many people around here agreeing with it.” | A couple from nearby Westerham said they were absolutely opposed to the idea and they felt that Fallon would be punished electorally if he was seen to be advocating fracking in his constituency. “It’s only [drilling companies] that benefit. People pay a premium to live here because they want peace and quiet and they want to keep that. I don’t see many people around here agreeing with it.” |
| Christine Brander, a 90-year-old who has been a Sevenoaks local for twenty years, said the trade-off between energy security and environmentalism was difficult but in the end the UK’s power supply must take precedence. “I don’t think anybody wants it. But we don’t want to be dependent on anyone else. If we were to depend on a country like Russia [for gas] it would be fatal.” | Christine Brander, a 90-year-old who has been a Sevenoaks local for twenty years, said the trade-off between energy security and environmentalism was difficult but in the end the UK’s power supply must take precedence. “I don’t think anybody wants it. But we don’t want to be dependent on anyone else. If we were to depend on a country like Russia [for gas] it would be fatal.” |
| Gary Williamson, the head of the Sevenoaks Conservative Association, who was reported as being "uneasy" over the trespsass law changes because “an Englishman’s home has always been his castle”, said no local residents had approached him. He said he was reserving judgement until he knew what the local impacts would be. | Gary Williamson, the head of the Sevenoaks Conservative Association, who was reported as being "uneasy" over the trespsass law changes because “an Englishman’s home has always been his castle”, said no local residents had approached him. He said he was reserving judgement until he knew what the local impacts would be. |