Communities fighting onshore oil and gas
The interim injunction by UK Oil and Gas against Persons Unknown and named people is the subject of a court hearing in early February 2021. Five defendants, under the Weald Action Group umbrella, are asking that the injunction be struck out.
We’re now asking for your support by attending the hearing remotely and by donating if you can . Continue reading “Injunction – February 2021 hearing”
Press release from A Voice for Leith Hill
The licence to drill for oil and gas in the area covering Leith Hill in Surrey will still be offered to exploration companies, even though successive companies have failed to drill there.
Leith Hill, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, was the site of controversial plans to drill for oil by successive companies over a 12 year period. Europa Oil and Gas pulled out of the site in 2018 after a lengthy legal battle to get planning permission to drill at the site.
Continue reading “Oil licence to continue to blight Leith Hill, regulator confirms to campaigners”
Plans to drill for oil on the Isle of Wight are open for another round of consultations with a deadline of February 12th. Please read the material and get in your objection before the deadline.
The consultation covers traffic and site issues, plus ecology, health and water issues. Don’t Drill the Wight has detailed briefings you can use and then personalise your objection.
Continue reading “Isle of Wight oil plans – new consultation”
A judge has found that Surrey County Council was not required to consider greenhouse gas emissions arising from the combustion of the oil to be produced at a site at Horse Hill, Surrey, when considering a planning application for massive expansion of oil drilling at the site over the next 25 years.
In a written ruling issued today, the Hon Mr Justice Holgate dismissed a legal challenge brought by Redhill resident Sarah Finch, who was supported by the Weald Action Group.
Continue reading “Judge finds against Horse Hill legal challenge”
The world’s governments must wind down fossil fuel production by 6% per year to limit catastrophic warming. This means reducing the supply of fossil fuels as well as demand for them.
These are key findings from the 2020 Production Gap, a new report from the United Nations. The report also finds that the UK is in a strong position to transition from fossil fuels, and to assist other countries in doing so.
Just a day later the UK Government announced a new target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 68% on 1990 levels. But the target doesn’t go anywhere near far enough.
Continue reading “Carbon cuts: latest UN warning and Government’s new target”
Surrey Councillors have refused – for a second time – an application by UK Oil and Gas to drill at Dunsfold, near Godalming. The councillors recognised the huge impact the application for an exploratory drill would have had on the local community, local businesses, traffic, the environment and nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They also discussed the unsupported claims of UKOG that their operations would make a significant contribution to the UK’s energy security.
Continue reading “Dunsfold application refused for second time”
The long-awaited Judicial Review of Surrey County Council’s decision-making over the planning permission for 20 years oil production at Horse Hill took place over two days this week.
Join a debrief with barrister Estelle Dehon
Continue reading “Horse Hill Judicial Review: reflections and debrief”
Case could have wide-ranging implications for future carbon-intense proposals
A legal challenge to Surrey County Council’s decision to allow 20 years of oil drilling and production to take place near Gatwick airport begins in the High Court today.
Continue reading “High Court hears legal challenge against Surrey oil development”
The Weald Action Group, with local groups Frack Free Surrey and Back Off Horse Hill, is proud to launch a new video which shows why local communities are opposing plans to drill for oil at Horse Hill, and elsewhere in southern England.
The need for hydrogen to meet the UK’s zero-carbon target does not justify the expansion of the onshore oil and gas industry.
Some oil and gas companies are making the case that by providing gas which could be used to produce hydrogen they are part of the transition to zero-carbon. For example, Stephen Sanderson, CEO of UK Oil & Gas told Surrey County Council’s Planning Committee in June 2020: “We believe that well-regulated and safely produced indigenous gas, such as Loxley [Dunsfold], represents a vital opportunity to help meet net zero targets by providing the most cost effective solution for the future UK production of clean hydrogen fuel”.
Now the Weald Action Group has published a briefing which shows that there is no need for fossil fuels to produce this clean-burning fuel.
Continue reading “Need for hydrogen is no justification for oil and gas expansion”