CLA lobbying victory over fracking liability
The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, has said it is relieved the Government has finally addressed concerns over landowners potentially being left liable if something goes wrong in the fracking process.
The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, has said it is relieved the Government has finally addressed concerns over landowners potentially being left liable if something goes wrong in the fracking process.
The organisation lobbied the Government for a number of months after the issue of liability was omitted from the Government’s response to the fracking consultation. Today (19 November) the House of Lords will debate a government amendment to the Infrastructure Bill confirming the landowner will not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from fracking unless that loss or damage is the result of his deliberate omission.
CLA President Henry Robinson said: “We have had major concerns over the Government’s seeming indifference to the potential liabilities facing landowners if anything goes wrong in the fracking process, particularly once a well has been abandoned.
“We are relieved that after months of CLA lobbying the Government has listened and addressed this important issue. However, we still have concerns over the Government’s proposals that fracking companies will be able to drill under people’s land as well as the presumption that they have the right to exploit geothermal heat.”
The CLA President is due to meet Department of Energy and Climate Change Minister Matt Hancock to discuss shale gas and fracking on 27 November.
