Landowners in the south west have accused the Government of riding roughshod over property rights and disregarding long-term liabilities in its enthusiasm to realise shale gas extraction. Earlier this month it was revealed that parts of the South Hams has been included in the areas of the country that could be opened up to controversial fracking operations. This week the Country Landowners Association accused Government of allowed the demands of energy industry investors to take precedence over established property rights. CLA south west director John Mortimer claimed that the Department of Energy and Climate Change Consultation on Underground Drilling Access proposes removing the need for landowner consent for underground works associated with oil, gas and geothermal heat exploration. He said the consultation is one-sided and is squarely aimed at meeting the demands of the energy industry while disregarding the rights and concerns of UK property owners. 'The Government is anxious to streamline the existing system of access, but we see no reason why the fracking industry should be entirely absolved of its duties to identify and agree access with landowners – just as other profit-making industries do, he declared. Maps of the areas where companies will be able to bid for licences to exploratory drilling for onshore gas and oil now includes an area of the South Hams east of Totnes and extending down to the coast around Torcross or Beesands. Mr Mortimer said the CLA is not opposed to the development of the UK's shale gas and geothermal resources, but as an organisation which represents land ownership and property rights it has serious concerns with the current proposals – particularly because no real consideration has been given to alternative means of gaining the underground access required. 'Large-scale shale gas development is new to the UK and the long-term implications are uncertain. There is currently no clear system in place to protect landowners from any ongoing liability should problems occur once a well has been abandoned,' he said. 'This is a major concern for our members and a glaring omission from the consultation. Land and property owners must be protected before further development takes place.' The CLA said many of the proposals seem to be focused on reducing the upfront cost of exploration, but there is no evidence to suggest that access is anything more than a tiny proportion of the total development cost of a well. While the voluntary community fund included in the proposals adds, an incentive for the local community – the CLA pointed out that it does not provide any route to compensation or consideration for those whose property rights might be threatened. 'There are other ways to deliver the access required and we have offered to negotiate a national access agreement on behalf of landowners which would remove the need for any new legislation,' said Mr Mortimer.