Activists turn David Cameron’s country home in Oxfordshire into a ‘fracking site’ in protest at new pro-drilling laws
by Steven Swinford and Miranda Prynne / The Telegraph
Environmental protesters this morning targeted David Cameron’s home as the government unveiled new powers to enable fracking to take place under people’s properties.
Ministers announced that they are prepared to overhaul trespass laws to enable energy companies to explore for shale gas under homes without owners’ permission.
Ahead of the announcement Greenpeace activists turned Mr Cameron’s home in the hamlet of Dean, Oxfordshire, into a “fracking site”.
Activists in hard hats and high-vis jackets turned up on the doorstep of the Prime Minister’s cottage in the Cotswold hamlet of Dean, Oxfordshire, sealing off the property’s front gate with security fencing.
Protesters erected a sign which read “We apologize for any inconvenience we may cause while we frack under your home”, and ordered complaints to be directed to Mr Cameron’s office.
Greenpeace said the stunt was a protest against legislation expected to be announced in the Queen’s Speech later, clearing the way for fracking firms to drill under people’s land and property without their permission.
Nearly three quarters of people in Britain oppose minister’s plans to strip people of their access rights in order the clear the way for fracking, according to Greenpeace.
Over 46,000 people have joined a legal block set up by the environmental group and based on the access rights homeowners have over the ground below their property.
Simon Clydesdale, Greenpeace UK energy campaigner, said: “David Cameron wants to rob people of their right to stop fracking firms drilling under their homes – surely he won’t mind if we kick off the under-house fracking revolution below his own garden.
“The Prime Minister is about to auction off over half of Britain to the frackers, including national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty like the Cotswolds.
“Having failed to reassure people that fracking is safe or good for Britain, Cameron is now railroading it through with a ‘bungs and bulldozers’ approach.
“Fracking won’t deliver energy on a meaningful scale for years, if ever, by which time we’ll need to have moved away from dirty fossil fuels and towards high-tech clean power if we’re to head off dangerous climate change.
“As ministers chase their imaginary energy Eldorado, the real solutions to boost our energy security, like slashing energy waste and backing renewables, are being sidelined. We’ll all pay a price for their shale craze.”
Shale gas exploration typically involves drilling down vertically and out horizontally, often for more than a mile.
Under current law, companies need permission from all the landowners beneath whose land they drill.
Case law shows they would otherwise be committing trespass. If a landowner refused permission, the company would have to take them to court, which would decide whether to award drilling rights and how much compensation should be paid.
The government said: “Subject to consultation, the Bill would support the development of gas and oil from shale and geothermal energy by clarifying and streamlining the underground access regime.
“The Government is currently running a full consultation on this policy and the legislation is entirely dependent on the outcome of that consultation.”
