A nice little boost for homeowners...

Graham_Devon

Boris Johnson has suggested that homeowners should own the shale gas beneath them and therefore, get payment for it.

This would then allow us to get fracking.

Which seems reasonable. But it's only aimed at homeowners with shale gas beneath them. The fracking could effect us all, renters, those around the area etc.

So what do you think? Should BTL landlors for instance like Mir Wilson be able to dictate the terms as he owns so many houses, and therefore, so much of the shale gas (if there is any there!)....or should it be a national payment of some sort?

It would appear to me under the Boris arrangements that this would benefit the wealthiest the most? (Larger gardens, more homes etc).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/10934503/Boris-Johnson-Let-households-own-shale-gas-and-oil-beneath-their-land.html

BillJones

Graham_Devon wrote: »

It would appear to me under the Boris arrangements that this would benefit the wealthiest the most? (Larger gardens, more homes etc).

You imply that this is a bad thing, without then going on to say why.

All sorts of things affect different sections of society in different ways. Is your standpoint that nothing should be done if it does not disproportionately help poorer people?

If that were the case, we'd never allow new roads to be built, airports to be expanded, or polo to be played...

Graham_Devon

BillJones wrote: »

You imply that this is a bad thing, without then going on to say why.

All sorts of things affect different sections of society in different ways. Is your standpoint that nothing should be done if it does not disproportionately help poorer people?

If that were the case, we'd never allow new roads to be built, airports to be expanded, or polo to be played...

Apologies, I thought it was rather obvious.

Shale Gas is a natural and national resource. Usually around a mile below the surface ground in which the building it built on.

Why should homeowners in specific be therefore paid for this resource?

I haven't said anything about poorer people by the way, so I'm not sure where you get that from.

princeofpounds

This isn't about 'homeowners', it's about 'landowners'...

Don't think it's the like of Mrs Smith from 23 Acacia Avenue who is lobbying for this...

CLAPTON

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I haven't said anything about poorer people by the way, so I'm not sure where you get that from.

no you didn't mention the poorer people although some foolish people might have misunderstood

It would appear to me under the Boris arrangements that this would benefit the wealthiest the most? (Larger gardens, more homes etc).

BillJones

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Apologies, I thought it was rather obvious.

Shale Gas is a natural and national resource. Usually around a mile below the surface ground in which the building it built on.

Why should homeowners in specific be therefore paid for this resource?

I haven't said anything about poorer people by the way, so I'm not sure where you get that from.

Your last point is dishonest. You mentioned wealthier people, implying that you would not have an objection if it helped poorer people. Are you now claiming that the dichotomy you were proposing was between wealthier people and perhaps wealthier badgers, not between wealthy and poor?

As to your first point, you presumably understand that traditionally a landowner owns everything from the centre of the earth to the top of the sky, and specific ordinances have to be brought in if this is to be set aside.

System

There was a time when landowners did own mineral rights under their land. Lots of fine houses were built on the profits of coal and iron deposits lying under country estates. I wonder when these rights were withdrawn - 1945 perhaps, or was it much earlier?
Unless the rights were purchased at full market value, then I'd have thought the heirs of the original dispossed owners would have first claim.

mayonnaise

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

There was a time when landowners did own mineral rights under their land. Lots of fine houses were built on the profits of coal and iron deposits lying under country estates. I wonder when these rights were withdrawn - 1945 perhaps, or was it much earlier?
Unless the rights were purchased at full market value, then I'd have thought the heirs of the original dispossed owners would have first claim.

That's interesting.
I never gave it much thought, but a quick google on freehold says

In certain jurisdictions, including the UK's England and Wales and Scotland, a freehold (also called frank-tenement and franktenement) is the ownership of real property, being the land and all immovable structures attached to such land. This is opposed to a leasehold in which the property reverts to the owner of the land after the lease period has expired.[1] Immovable property includes land and all that naturally goes with it, such as buildings, trees, or underground resources, but not such things as vehicles or livestock (which are movable).

Generali

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

There was a time when landowners did own mineral rights under their land. Lots of fine houses were built on the profits of coal and iron deposits lying under country estates. I wonder when these rights were withdrawn - 1945 perhaps, or was it much earlier?
Unless the rights were purchased at full market value, then I'd have thought the heirs of the original dispossed owners would have first claim.

Probably depends on how long ago that changed. If it was the 1940s it's feasible. If it was the English Civil Was it's not.

I think that the principle of stripping property from people legally is pretty well enshrined in English Law.

ruggedtoast

Frack renters. I live in a fracking hotspot and if there is smelly gold beneath my floorboards I fracking well want it.

Maybe the renters can be indentured to work on the oil fracking factory things for the homeowners.

CLAPTON

ruggedtoast wrote: »

Frack renters. I live in a fracking hotspot and if there is smelly gold beneath my floorboards I fracking well want it.

Maybe the renters can be indentured to work on the oil fracking factory things for the homeowners.

occasionally you do talk a little sense