Steps Take To Prevent Drilling Under Land

A group of residents and landowners in West Sussex have taken legal action in an effort to prevent an energy company from undertaking exploratory drilling under their property.

Sussex Wildlife Trust and others have written to Celtique and the Department of Energy and Climate Change ahead of a council planning meeting on whether the work can proceed stating that the drillers do not have their permission to drill under their homes.

Campaigners on behalf of Keep Kirdford and Wisborough Green have argued that the process is not as safe as claimed by the industry and Government.

Expert Opinion

This is an interesting development as frackers currently still require permission from householders to drill under people’s land. However, the Government has announced recently in the Queen’s speech that it intends introduce new laws to allow fracking companies to drill without asking permission. <br/> <br/>"The campaigners have promised to fight on – but their arguments could become academic if the laws are changed after the consultation ends and the government pushes the new legislation through. <br/> <br/>"There may well be challenges from campaigners to the government’s attack on old and established principles of ownership of the subsoil."