New Environmental Fight Looming in Sussex

The FT reported the other day that Cuadrilla is planning some exploratory drilling at a site in West Sussex. The FT's headline called the company "fracking firm Cuadrilla" which is a little bit naughty as there is no evidence that in drilling for oil, which is what this latest adventure is about, Cuadrilla will involve fracking at all. However, pressure group Frack Free Sussex is already on the case - "If they find any oil or gas, they'll frack"; "They're going to have a big fight on their hands". Dealing with single issue pressure groups like this one is extremely difficult - I know, I've just been on the receiving end of just such a group's protest on an entirely different issue (no names, no pack drill). Reasoned argument can very easily go out of the window. We should be very thankful that we live in a country where people may raise concerns freely but often the wider context is forgotten, or pushed aside. No doubt many members of Frack Free Sussex use oil or gas; I bet the majority practice wasteful habits; they are probably concerned that the UK as a whole retains its position of relative energy security; but as long as production is not in their back yards these considerations may be quietly ignored.