Europa Oil has applied to the Environment Agency for an environmental permit covering the storing and handling of crude oil and radioactive substances arising from its planned drilling at Leith Hill
You can read the documents – including a non-technical summary – and submit your response to the Environment Agency consultation here:
https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/rh5-6hn-europa-oil-and-gas-limited/
Wednesday 10 May, 7.30-9pm Burgundy & Black Coffee Bar, St Martins Walk, Dorking RH4 1UT
A free, open event – all welcome
The global divestment movement is asking investors such as pension funds to stop backing coal, oil and gas and invest in sustainable energy instead. Come and find out how this is gathering pace and what we can do to help. Read the rest of this entry >>
Keith Taylor, the South East region’s only Green MEP, came to Surrey this week to launch his new campaigner’s guide to drilling, acidisation and fracking
The guide includes details of drill sites across the region, including five in Surrey (Albury Park, Brockham, Leith Hill, Horse Hill and Bletchingley). It also includes an introduction to acidisation, and Keith’s concerns about a police crackdown on protest.
Keith also met with campaigners from Horse Hill, Brockham and Leith Hill, and protectors from the camp at Leith Hill to hear about their experiences and show his support for their work.
Following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, Fracked! or Please don’t use the F-word is coming to Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre as part of a major UK tour.
The comedy by Alistair Beaton takes us to an idyllic English village threatened by an energy company intent on drilling for shale gas.
Anne Reid plays Elizabeth, a retired academic who finds herself transformed from obedient citizen to angry protestor. James Bolam plays her husband. Bolam himself campaigned against a drilling proposal in his home village of Wisborough Green.
Fracked! is at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre from 12-20 April. Find out more and buy tickets here: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
For other tour dates: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/fracked/
As the row over unauthorised oil drilling in Brockham continues, local residents from the Dorking area and other anti-fossil-fuel protestors are appearing at Redhill Magistrates court on Monday 20 March. They were arrested in January for “slow walking” in front of lorries at the Brockham drilling site. They are charged with obstructing the highway and are expected to plead not guilty.
The arrest of one of them, Jacqui Hamlin – who was led away in handcuffs despite protesting peacefully – has been watched thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube.
Another arrestee, Amanda Wheatland, said, “The police were being taxpayer-funded security for the oil company Angus who were flagrantly flouting planning consents and permits at an oil well in Brockham.
“Myself and others were in constant communication with Surrey County Council over the numerous breaches of planning permissions and were constantly lied to and fobbed off by both Angus and SCC. Last week it was revealed that Angus had drilled a 1,350 metre side track without permission and in direct opposition to what Surrey County Council had told them they were allowed to do within existing permits.”
Oil firm told it needed planning permission
The arrestees – and members of the Protection Camp which was set up to monitor the activities of Angus Energy over the winter – were concerned that unpermitted drilling was being carried out at the site. They watched as a drilling rig was brought in, as well as lorries carrying toxic materials.
It has now been confirmed that Angus Energy did not have planning permission for the horizontal sidetrack that was drilled. Angus Energy claims it did not need planning permission, despite being told it did by the Council.
Local Green campaigner, Jacquetta Fewster, said: “Whilst Angus Energy was drilling, without the necessary planning permission, it was ordinary people – peacefully bearing witness – who were subjected to arrest. It is the directors of Angus Energy who should be held to account.”
Keith Taylor, MEP for South East England, said, “The drilling, without permission, of a new well is an outrageous breach of an already deeply strained trust. It is little wonder why residents and campaigners simply don’t trust the oil and gas drilling industry or the Government ‘regulations’ utterly failing to protect our environment and our local communities.” Read more from Keith Taylor MEP
Surrey County Council has confirmed that Angus Energy needs to submit an application for retrospective planning permission and will oppose any further unauthorised work at the site.
Those who support the protesters are invited to come and show support the strength of public opinion on this issue, at the Redhill Magistrate’s Court, at Hatchlands Road, Redhill, RH1 6DH, at 9.15am on Monday 20 March.
Next week offers two ways to show your opposition to oil drilling in our countryside, and to support local campaigners
Monday 20 March Support people arrested at Brockham
The people arrested while protesting peacefully against oil drilling at Brockham will be tried at Redhill magistrates court on Monday 20 March.
Please come along for 9.15am, to show support and demonstrate the strength of public opinion on this issue.
The court is at Hatchlands Road, Redhill, RH1 6DH, between Reigate and Redhill on the A25.
Wednesday 22 March: UPDATE!
The fencing application has been deferred as the Secretary of State has requested an Environmental Impact Assessment. A big win for campaigners Leith Hill Action Group
Surrey County Council’s Planning Committee will be considering an application for a two-metre high fence and other buildings at Leith Hill, to last the 18 week period of the development, on Wednesday, 22 March.
The County Council planners have judged that this application does not need an Environmental Impact Assessment. Campaigners believe this is against national planning policy and have called for an EIA to be required. Read more on the Leith Hill Action Group website.
The Landscape and Restoration Plan is still going to the planning committee this week.
People from Leith Hill Action Group and A Voice for Leith Hill will be speaking and it would be great to have a crowd along to show the level of public interest and support for having an Environmental Impact Assessment of the fence application.
The meeting is at 10.30am at County Hall, Kingston – details here.
Mole Valley Greens have pledged to fight on against oil drilling on Leith Hill, despite a court order* evicting the Protection Camp there.
Green campaigner Jacquetta Fewster said: “The local community – especially the Leith Hill Action Group – has been battling this unacceptable plan since 2009 and we will all continue to do so. Europa Oil and Gas still has to get all its permits in place before it can start drilling so this is not the end of the story”.
Local residents fighting oil drilling, including a Green Party member, were among those arrested yesterday (January 9) in a police swoop on the oil drilling site at Brockham.
Two Dorking Mums and a local Grandmother were arrested and released on bail in the middle of the night from a detention centre in Redhill. They had been at the site to monitor police and oil company activity and to make sure the protestors resident at the roadside camp were fairly treated. Five people were arrested in total.
Did you know there is an application for a further three years of
oil drilling and related activity at HorseHill, near Horley in Surrey?
The company who carried out test drilling for oil in spring 2016 has applied for permission for further flow testing of the existing well and to drill two more wells – one vertical and one horizontal – and test them. The plans also include extending the site area, modifying the access road, and installing more fencing, plant and cabins, all for a ‘temporary period’ of three years.
Please send your views to the planning authority, Surrey County Council.
Government ministers are about to approve a huge tax hike on solar panels that will have a devastating impact on the solar industry.
Recent cuts to the solar industry have already triggered an estimated 12,000 job losses. Now the government could allow a huge new tax hike to be inflicted on the industry, one that could leave businesses and schools that install solar panels with a 6-8 times higher tax bill.
Industry experts say that such a sudden and huge tax rise would prove catastrophic for swathes of UK solar firms.
Sign and share the petition: https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/page/s/no-new-solar-taxes-v3
Time for change
Renewable sources such as solar have huge energy potential – why is the Government throwing obstacles in their way?
In a world of increasingly scarce resources, nearing the tipping point into runaway climate change, we desperately need to build a new renewable energy economy.
But instead the government is clinging onto fossil fuels, with all their negative impacts.
It makes no sense to throw money at ‘unconventional’ fossil fuels which are harder to extract requiring more energy to produce while yielding less.