Government announcement on shale gas extraction – ‘fracking’ – in national parks

Government announcement on shale gas extraction – ‘fracking’ – in national parks

January 27, 2015

On 26 January 2015 Energy Minister Amber Rudd announced during a House of Commons Debate that the Government would remove the provision that shale gas exploration would be allowed in national parks in “exceptional circumstances”. Instead, she announced, there will be an outright ban “on fracking in national parks, sites of special scientific interest and areas of outstanding natural beauty”.

Responding to the announcement Trevor Beattie, Chief Executive for the South Downs National Park Authority, said:

“The Government recognised the importance of the South Downs’ special landscapes when they made it a National Park. Today’s announcement shows a commitment to putting measures in place to make sure it stays protected and we await further details from the Government as to how this will work.”