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Where do you stand on fracking? - tony (18th Mar 2014 - 10:03:22) I've just read this report on Yahoo. Apparently the British Geological survey are "poised to announce the discovery of shale rocks in an area that stretches from Weymouth in the southwest of England to the Weald in the southeast, including parts of Oxfordshire, reports the Times. The report is expected to focus on the Weald area of Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and Surrey, and will say the earth holds rocks containing one-third as much oil as was discovered under the North Sea... the government is expected to be flooded with fracking applications from companies next year when it offers the next round of contracts." It could look end up looking like downtown Baghdad around here. Is it a price worth paying for cheaper shale gas and oil? I've got to say I'm torn between my patriotism and my love of the countryside around here. Also for the health risks as I've got young kids. But I suppose the job opportunities would be very good too. Either way, it's coming and we need to decide how to respond.

Re: Where do you stand on fracking? - liz (18th Mar 2014 - 13:54:06) Sounds a bit strange as these shales are already known. - Hence the drilling and seismic surveys in the area. Wouldn't be a straightforward issue in the UK with problems of scale, access, infrastructure and rig availability (to mention just a few!) all adding to costs. - All for something with a relatively short production life but potentially long term environmental impact. Anyone who thinks we can replicate what has happened in the US or that this is another 'North Sea' which will drive down our energy prices is living in cloud cuckoo land in my view.

Re: Where do you stand on fracking? - S (18th Mar 2014 - 15:08:58) Please don't be too swayed by the idea of job opportunities, I really don't think that many jobs will be created by the development - think about it, the unskilled labour jobs will most likely be outsourced to people willing to work at min wage, and the top jobs will be given to people already experts in this field who will enjoy moving to the South Downs - there will not be a great number of jobs 'in the middle' advertised to local people. The whole thing will be a total disaster and I urge people to reevaluate their definition of patriotism - is it supporting a corrupt government and economic growth (why are people obsessed with growth?), or is it supporting our natural and cultural heritage within the South Downs region, which was here long before we were, and should be our responsibility to ensure it is still here long after we are gone - rather than pumping it for all it's worth and leaving it to rot.

Re: Where do you stand on fracking? - Frakton (18th Mar 2014 - 19:58:22) In total agreement with S, 'Jobs' is too often forced upon us as an end-of-argument call. Jobs can be sourced one way or another; renewable sustainable energy will create jobs too. Fossil fuels by their very nature are for a limited period. Objecting to fracking really is a no-brainer: no real savings for gas consumers lorries mayhem pollution extra demand (hence costs) of water CO2 exhausts (fines on greenhouse missed-targets) blighting the landscape temporary "solution" un-known risks such as seismic disasters yet another hindrance from moving onwards to future low-carbon economy. How about this bleak view: Once impoverished from our rural quality of life, plenty of Jobs can be created on attempting to remediate the fracking mistakes with, at best, mixed success.

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