The Church of England decided to register its mineral rights to the territory of 500,000 acres (202,000 hectares), The Times reports citing the Land Registry. The latter notified all the proprietors of the corresponding lands of clergies’ intentions.
The environmentalists and householders are apprehensive about the Church Commissioners’ intentions to grab their lands and get profit from shale gas extraction. The ecclesiastics say that their actions comply with the legislation. According to the new law, which was adopted amid the active development of shale gas industries in Great Britain, landowners must register their mineral rights until October 2013. Historically, the Church of England possessed huge territories.
The priesthood insisted that it has held these rights since the Norman Conquest of England (11th century). In compliance with those laws, a former estate owner has a right for all the belongings situated on the land under the possessed estate.
The Commissioners noted that the Church has no definite plans for mineral resources extraction. Besides, they did not roll out the possibility that the manufactures can be granted with the right to exploit fields belong to the Church, The Guardian says.
Great Britain has large reserves of shale gas. In June, the local geological department announced that one part of the shelf situated between Lancashire and Yorkshire, may contain up to 37 trillion cubic meters of gas. 10% of the total volume of extracted minerals can provide the country with fuel for 47 years ahead. Previously, the UK had had the law prohibiting the shale development by using hydraulic fracturing. However, it was repealed in December 2012.
