Why today’s Manchester court decision to move fracking protesters is a boost for shale gas everywhere
Investors in the UK’s burgeoning shale gas industry should be delighted with today’s decision by a Manchester court to remove anti-fracking protesters from land near Barton Moss, where energy company IGas has begun exploratory drilling for shale gas.
Judge Mark Pelling QC ruled in favour of landowners the Peel Group and has said that protesters must leave by noon tomorrow.
The court’s landmark ruling should accelerate progress for any would-be shale gas explorer across the country and boost investor confidence by removing a key hurdle to extracting the resource.
Shares in IGas are up over one per cent on the news.
This verdict is good news and demonstrates to exploration businesses that judges will move quickly to remove protestors who resort to acts of trespass in order to get their message across,” said Stuart Wortley, property litigation specialist at Pinsent Masons.
The order for possession will now be handed over to the enforcement officers responsible for evictions – if necessary, they will be able to call upon support from Greater Manchester Police who have been controlling the protest at public expense since last October.
Protesters opposed to the controversial hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – technique used to extract shale gas, which some claim causes earth tremors, previously set up camp at a Cuadrilla site in West Sussex and now at the IGas site in Greater Manchester.
“As the UK seeks to diversify its energy mix, there will always be a balance to be struck between the national interest and local interests however this decision shows that objections should be made through lawful means – which does not include trespassing on private land,” said Wortley.