4th May 2014

The Frack Free Balcombe Residents Association (FFBRA) is consulting lawyers this week on a legal challenge to the decision to grant planning permission for more work on Cuadrilla’s oil well in the village.

On Tuesday last week, the planning committee of West Sussex County Council voted by 12 to 1 to approve Cuadrilla’s application to flow test the well and install a flare to burn off gases.

FFBRA members spoke against the application and urged the committee to at least defer a decision on the application. The group said a report by planning officers recommending approval relied too heavily on statements by the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive. Both organisations are accused by FFBRA of being deficient in their responsibilities at Balcombe when Cuadrilla drilled the exploratory well last year.

Charles Metcalfe, of FFBRA, said the group would be meeting lawyers in London this week to see if there were grounds for a judicial review of the decision.