The British Geological Survey will release their figures in the new year for the amount of gas beneath Lancashire north and south of Preston. The Times (8th Dec) states they have learnt it is 300 trillion cubic feet. Far higher than previously stated and it is said up to 40% could be extracted at a lower price than current gas. Cuadrilla, the drilling company, have said they will drill 800 wells in 16 years and create 5,600 jobs.
Opponents, including some local and national groups, say it may pollute the water-table, cause tremors, create traffic, is a fossil fuel heating the planet which is causing climate change and that green energy sources should be used.