to think that more publicity should have been given to this change in land law?

[auntjane2]

According to commentary on the latest Queen's Speech, a new Infrastructure Bill will change the law on trespass in England to make it easier for fracking companies to drill under people's land without their permission.
What do MNers think? Should we be writing to our MPs about this? I've written to mine, but not yet had a reply

Appalling .

It's the same principle as coal mining which can tunnel underground without seeking permission from the surface landholders.

Whether the safety of fracking and tunnelling are comparable is another matter.

The difference is that anyone needing to drill under someone else's property has to get their permission or apply to the Secretary of State and go through a long-winded, difficult procedure. The new Infrastructure Bill is claimed to "simplify" this. I've got a worry about that.
Another difference between coal mining and fracking is that coal mining is now largely closing down in this country. There's nothing anyone can do about very old mine shafts, but at least anyone buying a home in England now might have a chance to know old mineshafts are there and then take a decision. Fracking is opening up whole new shafts, and it's a different extraction process.
If my MP does respond to my email, I'll let you know.

Yanbu. I'm surprised how little attention has been given to this

I've heard of it at least 3x already in last 2 months. I was out of country for 3.5 weeks, too.

I think the REAL problem with this bill is that what it actually does is increase the number places drill pads can be located - we will need 1000s of drilling pads up and down the country.

This change in the law the opens up is the possibility of drill pads being located closer to urban and built up areas - closer to our homes. Drill pads close to homes means increased traffic pollution - tankers and rig lorries, flaring, compressors - highly industrial infrastructure and noise.

My MP has just responded that this will only refer to land over 300 metres below the surface. His reply compares this to other existing utility pipes, though these of course would be for the purposes of supply rather than extraction, and there is a procedure utility companies have to go through before being able to lay such pipes. He has also not said how exactly the law is going to be changed.
I can't see where on the parliamentary website the bill has been published.

The law is being changed in that previously if a drilling company wished to drill a horizontal bore hole underneath your land they had to ask your permission first and then take you to court if you objected. They are changing the law so that they won't have to do that. With fracking they drill down vertically several 1000 feet and then across. These horizontal wells can be up to 5km long.

In West Sussex a land owner has refused access to his land which has prevented a company drilling near to and then under his land. It is not possible to get the oil/ gas out of the rock without these extensive horizontal wells.

They are overturning the law to enable drilling companies to go ahead and drill wells beneath your property, even if you don't want them to.

For your MP to conflate utility pipes with oil/ gas extraction wells is highly misleading or deeply misinformed. It is not simply a pipe to carry gas or oil though. It is not a pipe, it is a gas or oil well which will be "stimulated" to release gas or oil from rock.

YANBU, I'm very cross at how little coverage it's had.

I have heard about it quite a bit. It was also on the news a great deal at the time.

OP, you may have seen it by now but the Bill is here

The discussed changes to law aren't in the Bill as it was first introduced. There's a 12 week consultation on the subject, after which any changes may be introduced as amendments. So I guess the details will be clearer at that point.