Fracking Blow to UK Caving

[Flotsam]

Fracking will be allowed 1,200m below National Parks, this will limit the development of the Three Counties System.

 

[Pitlamp]

I doubt it - the Lower Palaeozoic "basement" below the limestone isn't oil bearing rock.

 

[grahams]

I see the BBC webpage on this subject is showing a photograph of Ashness Bridge and citing the Lake District as an example of a NP under which fracking is to be allowed. As the LDNP is almost entirely volcanic, there is no gas to be fracked. A very misleading article.

 

[Peter Burgess]

I imagine this has far more relevance to the South Downs than other places.

 

[bograt]

Areas of the Dark Peak could be vulnerable----.

 

[Mark Wright]

According to BBC local (Sheffield) news today, one of the drilling sites could be right on your doorstep Bograt near Chapel-en-le-Frith.

Greenpeace are talking about a mass Peak District trespass against the governments U turn on not allowing Fracking in National Parks. So long as the drill hole is out of the National Park or SSSI, they can go wherever they want underground.

It is suggested the Greenpeace trespass could be of a similar scale to the Kinder trespass. I'll be there.

Mark



 

 

[ah147]

How would a mass trespass help force a U-turn?

Not that I wouldn't be there. Sounds a giggle.

 

[bograt]

It is suggested the Greenpeace trespass could be of a similar scale to the Kinder trespass. I'll be there.

Mark

I suspect it could be considerably bigger, for what good it will do!!

 

[Mark Wright]

I would certainly expect a lot more than the 400 who trespassed in 1932 but that trespass is regarded by many as being the most successful direct action in British history. It led to the setting up of National Parks, contributed to the establishment of the Pennine Way as well as a number of other long distance footpaths and of course, eventually leading to the CROW act of 2000.

Mark

 

[A_Northerner]

I would be up for a mass trespass but I'm never going to associate myself with the likes of Greenpeace. Who's up for a caver's fringe trespass? 

 

[Mark Wright]

I would be up for a mass trespass but I'm never going to associate myself with the likes of Greenpeace. Who's up for a caver's fringe trespass? 

If you can guarantee getting the amount of publicity that Greenpeace would generate then I would be more than happy to join that trespass as well.

Just let us know where and when your fringe trespass will take place.

Mark

 

[Pitlamp]

I've just been sitting here scratching my head, wondering how cavers putting themselves on the wrong side of land owners would help. Wouldn't working together be more effective - and potentially bring other benefits? (But to be  honest I've not had time to think this through as I type and, as ever, I'm more than willing willing to be persuaded by reasoned argument.)

I'm not a geologist but my understanding is that the major UK caving areas are in fairly old rocks (Lower Carboniferous limestone). It follows that - unless something fairly geologically dramatic has happened, the rocks beneath our caving areas will be older (or in some cases igneous). I thought that most of our oil & gas bearing rocks were younger than Lower Carboniferous. If that's right then there's no hydrocarbons to be (economically) had from directly beneath our main caving areas.

I can understand that folk may be concerned outside caving areas however.

 

[Peter Burgess]

I would be up for a mass trespass but I'm never going to associate myself with the likes of Greenpeace. Who's up for a caver's fringe trespass? 

Which People's Front of Judea might that be, then?

 

[RobinGriffiths]

Splitters.

 

[bograt]

I've just been sitting here scratching my head, wondering how cavers putting themselves on the wrong side of land owners would help. Wouldn't working together be more effective - and potentially bring other benefits? (But to be  honest I've not had time to think this through as I type and, as ever, I'm more than willing willing to be persuaded by reasoned argument.)

I'm not a geologist but my understanding is that the major UK caving areas are in fairly old rocks (Lower Carboniferous limestone). It follows that - unless something fairly geologically dramatic has happened, the rocks beneath our caving areas will be older (or in some cases igneous). I thought that most of our oil & gas bearing rocks were younger than Lower Carboniferous. If that's right then there's no hydrocarbons to be (economically) had from directly beneath our main caving areas.

I can understand that folk may be concerned outside caving areas however.

Think you will find that proper landowners like it less than anyone, this is a case of the government 'riding roughshod' I wonder how many MP's have a finger in the pie of energy companies?
WRT geology, a lot of caves would not exist if it were not for the presence of Shale, consider Rushup Edge for instance, I know Fracking is meant to be significantly deeper, but collateral impact is bound to occur.

 

[Rob]

I can't see a logical reason why UK Cavers should be blanket against fracking. Yes i've seen mention of a few postulated environmental issues, but these seem so extremely unlikely to happen or even apply to caves, especially when compared with numerous other activities which seem to go unchallenged.

I can think of a few reasons for fracking, like increased local employment keeping pubs open, potential for reducing energy bills, benefit to the national purse, blah blah. None of which make me at all opinionated about the subject...

However I, among others, could be opinionated about UK Cavers getting publicity for being anti-fracking.

 

[Moose]

Generally if there's a natural resource which is available and in demand then man will exploit it, this applies here.

I personally would be more concerned about Breedon Aggregates plans to extend Hope quarry, again. Which illustrates my first point.

 

[ChrisJC]

I'm a caver. I'm pro fracking.  :tease:

Chris.