Horse Hill: permission for judicial review refused but campaigners fight on

Campaigners outside the Royal Courts of Justice, 13 February 2020

Campaigners from the Weald Action Group reacted with disappointment as a High Court Judge refused a request for a Judicial Review of a controversial planning decision.

Sarah Finch, a campaigner from Redhill, was seeking permission for a Judicial Review of Surrey County Council’s decision to allow the drilling of four new oil wells and 20 years of oil production at Horse Hill.

Continue reading “Horse Hill: permission for judicial review refused but campaigners fight on”

HHDL’s Traffic and Transport Management Plan for Horse Hill is unworkable

The Traffic and Transport Management Plan commissioned by Horse Hill Developments Ltd (HHDL) in support of its planning permission for 20 years of oil production at Horse Hill poses a real risk to other road users and if approved, threatens disturbance for local residents – for 20 years.

Under the plan – which is currently out for consultation – there would be no restriction on HGV permitted hours while oil production was going on – that’s 20 years of the planning permission.

Continue reading “HHDL’s Traffic and Transport Management Plan for Horse Hill is unworkable”

Horse Hill: Environmental permit should be refused

The Weald Action Group has objected to the application by Horse Hill Developments Ltd (HHDL) to vary its permit for the Horse Hill oil production site in Surrey.

HHDL recently obtained planning permission allowing them to drill and test four new oil wells, drill a water reinjection well, and produce and store oil at the site (a decision that a local resident is seeking leave to challenge in a Judicial Review, with our support). But the operations must also be approved by the Environment Agency.

Continue reading “Horse Hill: Environmental permit should be refused”

UKOG injunction to be challenged in the High Court

The Weald Action Group will be going to the High Court to challenge oil company UK Oil and Gas Plc (UKOG)’s attempts to stifle protest – but not until next year.

On Friday 15 November, Weald Action Group representatives went to court to reach a decision about the interim injunction that was issued to UKOG in September 2018.

Continue reading “UKOG injunction to be challenged in the High Court”

Why doesn’t the fracking moratorium cover acidising too?

The surprise announcement of a moratorium on fracking in England earlier this month left many people confused about which operations had been banned.

Campaigners across the Weald received celebratory messages from people overjoyed that proposed drilling at Horse Hill, Balcombe and elsewhere would be stopped in its tracks. Sadly that’s not the case. Continue reading “Why doesn’t the fracking moratorium cover acidising too?”

Fracking moratorium should cover extreme oil and gas sites in South East

The new ban on fracking should be extended to cover all fossil fuel sites using extreme techniques, like acidisation and matrix acidising, says the Weald Action Group.

Local campaign group, Brockham Oil Watch, launched an open letter today to regulators calling for an extension of the definition of fracking https://brockhamoilwatch.org/4993-2/

Continue reading “Fracking moratorium should cover extreme oil and gas sites in South East”

DONATE