Power to the people in Shropshire gas drilling battle

Now it appears people power may have won the day for villagers in Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere, who are claiming victory in their campaign to stop developers digging up the Shropshire countryside in the hunt for gas.

IGas Energy, which acquired Dart Energy last year, has confirmed it is no longer interested in operating an exploratory borehole to drill for coal-bed methane on the site.

The news has sparked delight from campaigners who feared drilling would cause untold damage to the Shropshire countryside and would lead to similar applications in other parts of the county.

The fears were raised despite Dart Energy insisting any work would have been carried on a small scale and safely.

Chris Hesketh, member of campaign group Frack Free Dudleston, said: "We are very grateful to the councillors at Shropshire Council who listened to the reasoned arguments from the community and showed that democracy does still exist. IGas has also decided to withdraw from the entire licence block thus further lifting the threat that has been hanging over the area.

"At a national level it is now well recognised that we are at increasing risk of electricity blacouts over the coming few years.

"Unconventional gas extraction won't play any part in addressing that shortfall because the industry needs at least 10 years to reach production volumes.

"Energy efficiency measures, energy storage and additional renewable energy could be deployed quickly enough to address the problem, however the current government is cutting back significantly on these areas.

"Instead they are spending greater amounts of money on asking the big six utilities to run the old power stations for longer, as well as diverting the investment money into unconventional gas and a new nuclear power station. We hope that there will be another change of direction, back towards clean energy and supporting communities instead of corporations."

The application also sparked the creation of the protest camp, Dudleston Castle, which was built in August last year out of wooden pallets and plastic sheeting in the corner of a field north of Ellesmere.

Over the months it grew to include separate living quarters complete with log burning stoves, a fully stocked camp kitchen and even a solar shower.

Those living inside have been dismantling the camp over the last couple of weeks now that they feel the immediate threat has been lifted. The spokesman for the group, who say they are environment protectors not protesters, is known only by the name of Yellowbelly.

He said: "It's been a long year so obviously it's amazing news. It's great news for Dudleston and great news for the farmer as well. It's not financially viable here in Shropshire.

"But we can't stop now and we have got to stop all unconventional gas drilling. We will continue to campaign to do that."

The energy company's announcement comes weeks after it missed a contractual deadline to start work on the site and the landowner said he was reluctant to extend the arrangement.

In July 2012 Paul Hickson signed a form giving the company the licence to site an exploratory drill pad for coal bed methane in a field at the family's Brooklands Farm.

Since then he said he and his family have gone through three years of the most unimaginable stress and worry. The 54-year-old said he felt that a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders after the three-year licence for test drilling on his land had come to an end and he has urged other farmers not to sign similar licences.

Had not the Dart Energy missed the contractual deadline, wrangling over the proposals would have dragged on.

Dart Energy put in the plans last year but when Shropshire Council failed to make a quick decision on the scheme, the energy company appealed.

Earlier in July the parties involved in the inquiry into the plans were given an extension of time to pull their case together.

It meant the final decision lay with with a government planning inspectorate and the stalemate would have dragged on.

Gordon Grant, spokesman for IGas Energy, said the decision not to pursue the scheme in Shropshire was made following a comprehensive review of all Dart's licences.