Ministers want to change trespass law to boost fracking
Fracking is really controversial – I blame the wobble recently experienced by the Blackpool Tower. Whilst I have an open mind on the relative benefits of fracking I feel uncertain about this proposed approach – the article tells us:
Ministers want to give energy companies the right to run shale gas pipelines under private land, Whitehall sources have confirmed.
The planned move – aimed at kick-starting the fracking industry – will be included in the Queen’s Speech as part of an Infrastructure Bill.
The companies will still need planning permission to drill for shale gas.
But they will be able to install pipes to transport the gas under private land without fear of breaking trespass laws.
Prime Minister David Cameron has also indicated that the government could cut subsidies for land-based wind farms when it has “built enough to meet all our targets”.