Anti-Fracking Update - February 2018

Burns Night
Our Burns night anti-fracking fund raising event was very successful with approx. £1000 raised from sales and donations.

Anti-Fracking Legal Training
Green and Black Cross training – training for fracking activists is being hosted in two different venues on different dates, “Know Your Rights” on 3 March in Maltby and “Legal Observer” training on 10 March in Sheffield. Training is provided free so Sheffield Friends of the Earth only need to pay for venues. If training well attended or oversubscribed it may be possible to organise further sessions.

For more details see
https://www.facebook.com/events/203992193672044/
https://www.facebook.com/events/150470025650546/
https://www.sheffieldfoe.co.uk/2018/02/anti-fracking-training.html

Ecclesfield
We had an update from Richard on the planned meeting with council and local environmental groups and two independent experts who can explain the evidence on the issue of water contamination from the fracking process and associated hazards.

Labour Party
Richard is giving a presentation on fracking campaigning to Fulwood Labour Party on 20 March.

Fracking Update from Frack Free South Yorkshire  

Misson Springs and Tinker Lane well sites
IGas has begun work on well pad constructions. IGas says Misson Springs will be their first well. A protection camp has been set up. Postcode DN10 6ES.

Marsh Lane
Derbyshire County Council planning committee voted 9 to 1 to oppose the planning application.  Ineos’ appeal will be heard from Tuesday 19th to Friday 22nd June, and from Tuesday 26th to 29th June 2018.

Harthill
On 25th January the Rotherham Council Planning Board councillors unanimously backed their planning officers recommendation to oppose the application on traffic and ecology grounds.

Ineos’ appeal will be heard from 24th to 27th April, and from 1st to 4th May at Rotherham Town Hall, The Crofts, Moorgate Street, Rotherham S60 2TH

Woodsetts
The Planning Board meeting is expected to be held on 8th March. There is still time to get objection letters in. A pro-forma is attached.

Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire
Third Energy’s contractors have pulled out most of the equipment from the well site. There are restrictions on the work Third Energy can do during nearby Flamingoland’s season from Easter to September so it unlikely they will return until September at the earliest.

Mineral Strategies
The Communities and Local Government Committee has opened an inquiry to examine (1) whether guidance for local authorities taking planning decisions on fracking applications needs to be updated or improved, (2) whether there needs to be a comprehensive document bringing all existing guidance together, for all those involved in the planning process, and (3) whether applications for fracking should be determined by the national planning regime rather than at a local level.
The third part gives us the most concern. In its 2017 General Election manifesto, the Conservative Party said, “where necessary, major shale planning decisions will be made the responsibility of the National Planning Regime.” This is an attack on localism. The deadline for submissions is 14 March.


Events
  • Saturday 24 February, 11.00am: NOT FOR SHALE AWARENESS MARCH.
  • Saturday 24 February, 5.30pm to 2am: FRACKING SHAMBLES AT HAGGLERS. Hagglers Corner, 586 Queens Road, Sheffield S2 4DU. Anti-fracking fundraiser. Food, live music, DJs and speakers including Eddie Thornton, Helen Chuntso, David Kestevens and Frack Free South Yorkshire.
  • Tuesday 27 February, 7pm: MEETING RE HARTHILL PUBLIC ENQUIRY. Harthill Village Hall, Winney Hill, Harthill S26 7YL
  • Tuesday 27 February, 7.30pm: FRACK FREE PENISTONE & STOCKSBRIDGE meeting. Travellers Inn, 286 The Common, Stocksbridge S35 9WP
  • Wednesday 28 February, 7pm: WOODSETTS AGAINST FRACKING public meeting. Village Hall, Gildingwells Road, Woodsetts S81 8QB
  • Saturday 3 March, 10am-2pm: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING. The Wesley Centre, 14 Blyth Road, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8JD. Two miles East from Junction 1 of the M18 motorway.
  • Saturday 10 March, 10am-5pm: LEGAL OBSERVER TRAINING. Saint Andrew's URC Church, Upper Hanover Street, Sheffield S3 7RQ
  • Wednesday 14 March, 7.30-10.00pm: PROTEST LAW - Helen White of Howells LLP. The Queen, 135 High Street, Mosborough S20 5AF.
  • Thursday 19 April, 7pm: THE BENTLEY EFFECT FILM SCREENING. The Venue, 650 Manchester Road, Stocksbridge S36 1DY
  • And, of course, the ROBIN HOOD vs. FRACKING lantern-making workshops, street theatre and lantern parade.