Press release from Divest Surrey, 9 November 2017
National data released today has revealed that Surrey County Council is investing over £159 million in the fossil fuel industry through their management of the council pension fund [1]. Campaigners say the controversial investments threaten the climate and also represent an unacceptable financial risk to pension-holders.
Update supplied by Brockham Oil Watch
A new application
Angus Energy has recently made two important announcements relating to the Brockham Oilfield. On 25 Oct it announced that it will “submit a normalisation application for the continued surface activities of the production plant required for well BR-X4 and notably, its inclusive sidetrack BR-X4Z.”
It remains to be seen whether this will include a retrospective application for the drilling of sidetrack BR-X4Z, and/or an application cover any further exploration, testing or production from that or other wells, as Surrey County Council have requested.
HORSE HILL
On 18 October, Horse Hill Developments Ltd received planning permission for a further three years of oil drilling and related activity at Horse Hill.
The Environment Agency has already granted the variation to HHDL’s environment permit to allow the works.
This is a press release from A Voice for Leith Hill, community group.
Surrey residents who claim their voices aren’t being heard in the process to decide traffic plans for oil drilling on Leith Hill will carry out a silent protest this Wednesday (October 18).
On Wednesday, 18 October, Surrey County Council’s Planning & Regulatory Committee will be deciding on drilling and related activities at Horse Hill and Leith Hill.
Come to County Hall on 18 Oct to show your opposition to oil drilling in our area. Meet at 10.15am by the Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT1 2DN See the Facebook event here
The petition was presented to local councillors in June
Mole Valley District Council’s Development Control Committee unanimously agreed a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for Coldharbour Lane last night. [1]
Members of the community group, A Voice for Leith Hill, had identified twenty iconic trees in the historic sunken lane which are threatened by oil drilling plans for Leith Hill and campaigned to have them protected.
On the eve of the Prudential 100 cycle event (July 30th), campaign groups in Surrey are warning of serious risk to cyclists on the same roads in the coming months.
A lorry in Coldharbour Lane
Cyclists on Sunday will ride safely on closed roads. But once permission for an exploratory oil drill on the route is approved, the roads will be shared with HGVs. In the last couple of weeks a cyclist died after an accident nearby – it is feared that emergency vehicles will be slowed down from accessing this area once the oil drilling starts.
Europa Oil & Gas, in consortium with UK Oil & Gas, Union Jack Oil, Angus Energy and others, have conditional planning consent for an exploratory oil well at a site alongside Coldharbour Lane. This is a narrow, winding, tree-canopied sunken lane in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This round-up is compiled by volunteers and information is presented in good faith. We are not experts and you are advised to do your own research and contact the groups campaigning on these sites. If anyone has further news or information about any oil or gas drilling planned or taking place in Surrey, please contact us.
Here are updates from sites at Bletchingley, Brockham, Bury Hill Wood (Leith Hill) and Horse Hill.
Bletchingley
Island Gas Limited (IGas) have applied for an environmental permit for oil & gas drilling in Bletchingley. Read the application and have your say
Brockham
Angus Energy have submitted a planning application for increased site works at Brockham to be valid until 2036. The consultation is open until 31 July. The application is expected to go before the Planning and Regulatory Committee at its meeting in September.
The Dorking Solar Group, in conjunction with Transition Dorking, present Before the Flood. With a running time of 1 hr 30 mins, the film follows Leonardo DiCaprio around the world as he gives an enlightening account of the dramatic changes occurring due to climate change.
Natural scientist and educator Rich Thompson will be on hand to answer questions and give some extra insight on some of the topics raised by the film.
Rich has a passion for sustainability, fuelled by his first hand experiences of rainforest devastation for palm oil plantations in Borneo, the global decline of coral reef ecosystems, and a belief that through education, positive change is truly possible.
Date: Weds 28 June
Venue: Burgundy & Black, St Martin’s Walk, Dorking
Time: From 7.30 pm