4th June 2014

West Sussex County Council has organised a drop-in information event for residents who want to learn more about oil and gas exploration and production.

The council said it was responding to demands from local people for more detail about the processes involved and the planning system.

Representatives from the Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive, Department for Energy and Climate Change and the county council will attend.

But a press release from the council added: “There will not be site-specific discussions where planning applications are live.”

These include the application by Celtique Energie to drill an exploratory well near Wisborough Green and Kirdford, which is due to be considered by the council’s planning committee on July 22nd. Another application by Celtique Energie at Fernhurst will be decided by the South Downs National Park Authority on July 10^th.

Louise Goldsmith, West Sussex County Council Leader, said: “We appreciate there is very strong feeling among residents about the possibility of fracking in West Sussex. There is also a lot of misinformation out there and we genuinely hope that the event will help people interested to have a greater knowledge.”

The event is at Pulborough Village Hall on Saturday 21^st June from 9.30am to 4.00pm. People can drop in at any time but because of limited capacity in the hall the council asks those intending to visit to confirm in advance by emailing oilandgas@westsussex.gov.uk.