New move on fracking plan for Keynsham
An energy company has upped the ante in its plans to extract shale gas at Keynsham.
UK Methane has withdrawn a planning application for test drilling at Hicks Gate, and says it will now apply for a full production facility there.
It is facing stiff opposition from environmental campaigners who fear that the extraction process - known as fracking - will contaminate Bath's hot springs and cause other pollution.
The firm claims the process - cleared by the Government after a tremor scare linked to a drilling rig in Lancashire - is a solution to the country's looming energy crisis.
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More than 500 people have objected to the test drilling plans submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council.
In a letter to the council withdrawing that application, UK Methane director Gerwyn Llewellyn Williams says the planning process has become so demanding it will now skip the test drilling consent stage.
"The level of information that is being requested is far higher than that for any other previous planning application that we have been involved with in other parts of the country; we feel therefore, for the extra amount of work that is involved, that we will apply for a full production permission. Central government has carried out enough work to prove that shale gas production is safe and has recently lifted the moratorium on fracking."
Comments
by mhelenmary
Monday, December 24 2012, 3:23PM
“I still would rather see a better way of looking to use LESS energy, rather than more. Every home should have the chance. I don't like the idea much either, of extracting gas in this way.”
by battybowy87
Monday, December 24 2012, 12:32PM
“I wonder which council members are getting their pockets lined for this to go ahead. this will happen, its just a matter of time!”
by capndave
Sunday, December 23 2012, 2:29PM
“Dave L. Could you explain in more detail your dislike of wind power apart from money, as we all do things for profit……..
No, because I really don't wish to get into a debate with you.”
by DaveF_Walcot
Sunday, December 23 2012, 11:43AM
“"Eight massive weirs without hydro generators - WHY? Continuous flow without hydro generators - WHY?"
Hardly massive. For H.E.P. to work efficiently there has to be a high head &/or fast flow.
Has any research been done into how many kW can be produced from the Avon as it passes through Bath & if it's commercially viable? Remember mills only took energy to power a grindstone or a few looms, not power the neighbourhood.
If too much energy is taken out of the river, the flow slows & you get silting downstream. Not good.
Dave L. Could you explain in more detail your dislike of wind power apart from money, as we all do things for profit?”
by BV_BV
Sunday, December 23 2012, 10:23AM
“Dave is so right. We have all this energy in our hot springs that is simply allowed to flow away into the Avon. Why isn't technology using this to our advantage and providing us with energy. How many homes could be heated using heat exchange?”
by 26sean
Sunday, December 23 2012, 10:00AM
“@capndave
dam right we should be looking to the river or wind power thats my opinion anyway”
by capndave
Saturday, December 22 2012, 8:30PM
“Please just pop down to our great River Avon tomorrow morning and take a close look at the continuous energy pouring unused down to the sea. Eight massive weirs without hydro generators - WHY? Continuous flow without hydro generators - WHY?
Much better to drill bruddy great holes in our planet, blast seven bells out of its foundations, pump billions of gallons of water into its core at enormous pressure, and inevitably pollute our now clean water courses.
Like Wind Power, Fracking the rocks is simply desperation methods merely to give a false hope to those silly enough to believe it.
Like Wind Power, Fracking the rocks is simply about MONEY.”
by BV_BV
Saturday, December 22 2012, 8:26PM
“I don't like being part of a risk, especially when the stakes appear so high!”
by Yetypu
Saturday, December 22 2012, 8:12PM
“"the planning process has become so demanding it will now skip the test drilling consent stage"
The law of unintended consequences in play again.”
by lamail
Saturday, December 22 2012, 7:58PM
“Fracking has been proved to be safe and is a cheap ,reliable and environmentally friendy source of energy.”