Planning permission for oil production at Horse Hill was quashed this summer as a result of the legal challenge which Sarah Finch brought on behalf of the Weald Action Group.
The ruling has led to a number of other planning applications being quashed around the UK.
Yet at Horse Hill itself, Horse Hill Developments Ltd (HHDL) continues to produce oil at the site, according to figures submitted by its parent company UK Oil & Gas plc (UKOG) to the industry regulator. Read more on Drill or Drop
It’s not clear why UKOG are still producing oil at Horse Hill despite having no planning permission to do so.
The Weald Action Group’s lawyers have written to Surrey County Council, the planning authority responsible for enforcing mineral planning issues, asking whether the Council agrees that the continued works don’t have planning permission; when they expect HHDL to apply for retrospective planning permission; and whether they will take enforcement action to stop the works. So far we’ve not had a response.
The new MP for the new Dorking and Horley constituency, Chris Coghlan, and others have also asked the Council similar questions.
Photo: Extinction Rebellion
On Monday 14 October, Extinction Rebellion campaigners blocked the entrance to the site, holding placards reading “Surrey County Council, stop UKOG flouting Supreme Court Horse Hill ruling”, “CEO Stephen Sanderson Stop Pumping Oil Unlawfully At Horse Hill” and “No More Planet Killing Emissions – Time To Restore Horse Hill To Nature”.