The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto pledged to ban it – before former Prime Minister Liz Truss’ government U-turned on the commitment once she came to power last month. But  Rishi Sunak restored the ban on fracking during his first Prime Minister’s Questions. He said he would “stand by the manifesto” in 2019 which put a moratorium on shale gas extraction – until there was new scientific evidence about the technique.The Misson Springs site, in Bassetlaw, was subject to shale gas tests until 2019 after Nottinghamshire County Council approved plans in 2016. In 2019 “exploration work” was completed at the site, and applicants Island Gas Ltd (IGAS) said it had found a “world-class gas resource”.

But former Misson resident Sheelagh Handy, said the threat of fracking in Misson remains. She called for the site to be restored to its former state. She said: “It is a pause, not a ban. We are very aware as a community that the threat could return any moment. The fact is that iGas should have restored the site a long while ago. It is an uncertain time because we have been here before and on a pinhead, everything changed again. We welcome what was said by Sunak but we actually want action, we want the site restored.”

“We want a ban on fracking nationally.”

“The prospect of fracking still hangs over us, it hasn’t gone away.

Erin McDaid, Head of Communications & Marketing at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said “It will hopefully mean we can get the experimental drilling site at Misson springs capped and restored. “Nationally the picture is still very scary. This is welcome but it’s only a crumb of comfort.”

 July 2021

Nottinghamshire fracking plans  were refused and site must be restored to natural  condition.

IGas submitted plans to extend the site’s use and delay restoration works until November 2023, hoping for a reversal of the Government moratorium.

The application was recommended for approval by council officials. But Nottinghamshire County Council’s planning and rights of way committee opted to refuse the application, ordering the site to be restored.

This meant the applicant must  restore the Springs Road land to its former condition.

BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE!!!