Engineering news
The number of people in favour of fracking for shale gas in the UK has fallen below 50% of the first time, according to new research from the University of Nottingham.
The survey found that 49.8% of 3,657 people polled were in favour of fracking, 31.4% were against it, while 18.4% were undecided.
Support for shale gas was at a high of 58% in July 2012, but fell to 54% in September 2013 and 53.3% in January, the survey by YouGov for the University of Nottingham showed.
The research pinpointed the anti-fracking protests in Balcombe, West Sussex, as the moment that public opinion towards fracking began to shift.
The survey found that Labour voters support has gone from a high of 52% in favour to 41% now. Tory voters have been consistently high in their support for fracking, with 67% in favour, which is similar to Ukip voters.
The survey reveAled that an increasing number of people were better educated about the technology and processes behind fracking.
It also found that older people were more accepting of fracking than younger people.
Meanwhile, fracking firm Cuadrilla is to submit a planning application to drill up to four shale gas exploration wells in Lancashire, expecting a decision to be made within a few months. The company said it will put forward its plans for two sites near Blackpool to drill, hydraulically fracture and test the flow of gas.
Once the planning application for the first site at Preston New Road has been validated by Lancashire County Council, it is expected that a decision will be made within 16 weeks, said Cuadrilla.
A separate planning application for a second proposed site, at Roseacre Wood, will be submitted to the council a few weeks later.