Guardian: Fracking protests hit UK public support for shale gas

Protests against fracking by thousands of people in Sussex over the summer appear to have reversed the growth in British public support for shale gas for the first time.

Polling by the University of Nottingham has shown support for shale gas extraction in the UK steadily rising for more than a year, peaking at 61% in favour in July. But that number fell in September, to 55%.

In August, more than 2,000 people marched against fracking at an oil drilling site run by Cuadrilla near the village of Balcombe, in West Sussex. Dozens of protesters were later arrested, including the Green party MP, Caroline Lucas. They cited concerns over water use by fracking, which involves pumping water and chemicals underground at high pressure to release gas from shale, and said the controversial technique would divert investment away from renewable energy.  MORE