As residents and campaigners protest the start of Cuadrilla’s drilling process in Balcombe, West Sussex, Friends of the Earth South East Regional Campaigner Brenda Pollack, said:

“Today’s action at Balcombe shows the scale of concern about the lack of information on the environmental impacts of this project.

“No environmental impact assessment has been carried out for this site, so how does the Environment Agency know that groundwater is not at risk? There are already high levels of pollution in the Ashdown groundwater beds and any further contamination could lead to dangerously high levels of pollution in the water.

“The speed at which the Environment Agency has considered hundreds of responses begs the question as to whether they are properly considering the impacts or rushing ahead.”

ENDS

Notes:

1. Evidence of already high levels of groundwater pollution is on page 10 of the Site Condition report.

2. Environment Agency permit application details here.

3. A copy of Friends of the Earth's response to the consultation is available on request.

4. Friends of the Earth’s view on shale gas here.