Fracking has long been a controversial practice in the UK, with environmental campaigners picketing sites for years.

Attempts to establish a UK shale gas industry were mired by setbacks as concerns were raised over the fracking process’s safety and environmental impact.

Now the government has decided to ban the process, Sky News takes a look back at the issue over the years.

2011

Fracking hits the headlines in 2011 when two tremors in April and May are linked to Cuadrilla’s work in the Blackpool area.

Drilling is halted following the magnitude 2.3 and 1.5 quakes, which a report says are highly likely to have been caused by the fracking process.

2012

The ban on fracking is lifted by the government in December, subject to regular seismic risk assessments.

2013

Environmental campaigners protest for weeks against exploratory drilling plans in the small West Sussex village of Balcombe.

Demonstrators camp by the roadside and hold up signs to protest the plans. Some are arrested.

Cuadrilla insists it is simply conducting exploratory mining and it is unlikely the site will go into full production.

January 2014

David Cameron, who is prime minister at the time, announces £1.7m for councils which agree to drill for shale gas.

He says the government is “going all out for shale” as campaigners argue the plan amounts to bribery.

February 2014

Cuadrilla says it will resume drilling at two locations – Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road.

It plans to drill up to eight holes in a search for shale gas reserves.

The company says it will apply for planning permission to drill, hydraulically fracture, and test gas flows at the two sites.

2015

Planning officers recommend that Cuadrilla’s plans to resume drilling are rejected, a move welcomed by environmental campaigners.

It is recommended the plans are refused on the grounds the developments would “unnecessarily and unacceptably” cause harm to residents through noise pollution.

2016

The government approves fracking for shale gas at the Preston New Road site near Blackpool.

However an application to drill at the nearby Roseacre Wood site is delayed.

July 2017

Protests erupt at the Preston New Road fracking site as campaigners rally against the drilling.

One protester claims she was knocked unconscious by a Cuadrilla security officer and another man says he was pushed out of his wheelchair by police.

October 2017

Scotland announces an immediate ban on fracking following a two-year consultation into its potential impacts.

October 2018

Just as Cuadrilla is about to begin its first commercial fracking on UK soil, an emergency injunction filed by a local campaigner halts the process.

The injunction against the council is filed by retired businessman Bob Dennett, who claims emergency response planning and procedures at the Preston New Road site are inadequate.

A judge later rules there is “no evidence” to show fracking poses more than a “medium risk”, allowing Cuadrilla to begin the drilling for shale gas.

The company begins work but the process is halted once again when a magnitude 0.8 earthquake is recorded.

November 2018

Cuadrilla says it has produced the first shale gas from its site in Lancashire.

The company says it is “significant and indicative of the potential of the shale”.

December 2018

Cuadrilla is forced to pause operations once again when a 1.5 magnitude tremor is recorded.

January 2019

Greater Manchester says it will ban fracking across all 10 of its local councils.

August 2019

A record-breaking tremor of magnitude 2.9 is felt near the site, rattling doors and windows.

Fracking is indefinitely suspended as a result.

November 2019

The government announces it will ban fracking.

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