Campaigners from the Weald Action Group were deeply concerned and disappointed when Councillors on the Surrey County Council Planning and Regulatory Committee voted on 11 September to give the go-ahead to massive expansion of oil drilling at Horse Hill, near Horley.
Horse Hill Developments Ltd now has the green light to drill five new wells (one for water reinjection, which is implicated in causing earthquakes elsewhere) and commercial oil production for 25 years.*
James Knapp of Weald Action Group said, “Approving more drilling at Horse Hill was the wrong decision. The Weald Action Group and others had sent detailed submissions to the planning department, which were not properly represented to the Committee members.
“The Officer’s Report failed to take account of the changes in government policy on climate change, and didn’t address the risks of drilling in an active earthquake zone. We will seek legal advice on how to challenge this decision.”
The Weald Action Group has consulted lawyers about the prospect of challenging the decision through the courts. We expect to receive the legal opinion from our barristers shortly.
*See a summary of the plans at: https://drillordrop.com/2019/09/09/planners-back-15-months-of-drilling-and-20-years-of-oil-production-in-surrey-green-belt/