Environment Secretary urged to revoke lease on woodland oil drilling site in Surrey hills
The government is being urged to block a land agreement that will allow exploratory drilling for oil near the Leith Hill beauty spot in Surrey.
Guest Poost: End of planning permission at California Quarry, Dorset
Guest post by Stuart Lane In this Guest Post, Stuart Lane, chair of Fossil Free Dorset, reports on the expiry of planning permission this weekend for drilling at California Quarry, in Swanage. An occupation of the proposed site since September has now ended. InfraStrata was granted permission in 2013 […]
Surrey councillors approve 15 years of gas production in AONB
Surrey County Council has backed plans by IGas to convert an exploration site near Guildford to gas production.
Government confirms ban on fracking from protected areas but refuses greater controls
The government has confirmed it will not allow fracking to be carried out from wells drilled at the surface of English protected areas, including National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and special wildlife sites.
West Sussex seeks to exclude oil and gas drilling from protected landscapes
A new strategy in West Sussex seeks to prevent almost all oil and gas development in the South Downs National Park and the county’s two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Breaking: MPs back fracking under national parks
Labour whips have just said that MPs have voted to allow fracking under National Parks and other protected areas. They say the result was 298 in favour and 261 against, a government majority of 37. The vote approved the government’s Draft Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2015. […]
Inquiry into Europa’s Surrey Hills drilling plan hears final arguments
Supporters and opponents of a scheme to drill for oil in the Surrey Hills had their last chance today to persuade a planning inspector of their arguments.
Council failed to check traffic plan for Europa’s oil drilling site – inquiry inspector
Surrey County Council appears to have approved arrangements to deal with lorries to a proposed exploratory oil site without checking evidence from the company, a public inquiry heard this morning.
Leith Hill drill site’s risks to water supply “essentially zero” – inquiry told
A hydrogeologist employed by Europa Oil and Gas said the risk of water contamination from a proposed exploratory drilling site in the Surrey Hills was essentially zero.
Oil in the Surrey Hills could raise £86m in tax, Europa tells inquiry
The public inquiry into plans to drill in the Surrey Hills heard this morning about the estimated volume and value of oil.
DRILL OR DROP? 