Frack Free Surrey

Press release from the Weald Action Group

Lawyers for five peaceful protesters supported by the Weald Action Group have applied to the High Court to bring an end to an interim injunction against protest at oil sites in Surrey and Sussex in line with a new Court of Appeal ruling.

A recent judgment, made on a case brought by fur company Canada Goose, says it’s unlawful to allow interim injunctions against “persons unknown” to drag on and vindicated the protesters’ argument that companies such as UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) should stop misusing Court procedures to get wide orders against lawful protesters  through the unfair device of persons unknown.

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Press release from the Weald Action Group

A plan for lorries to access the Horse Hill drill site in Surrey day and night for 20 years poses a real risk to other road users and means disturbance for local residents, says the Weald Action Group [1].

Under the plan – yet to be agreed by Surrey County Council – there would be no restriction on HGV permitted hours while oil production was going on – that’s 20 years of the planning permission.

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We urge everyone to send a response to the Environment Agency’s consultation on the Horse Hill oil drilling site.

The site operator, Horse Hill Development Ltd (HHDL), has asked for changes to the environmental permit to allow them to drill and test four new oil wells, drill a water re-injection well and produce and store oil at the site.

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Press release from Leigh Day

A resident of Redhill in Surrey has issued a legal challenge against Surrey County Council’s decision to grant planning permission to allow Horse Hill Developments Ltd to retain and extend a site at Horse Hill, near Gatwick, with an increase in oil production by the drilling of four new wells on Green Belt land.

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A local campaigner has launched a Crowdfunder appeal to raise funds for a judicial review of Surrey County Council’s decision to allow massive expansion of oil drilling at Horse Hill in Surrey.

Sarah Finch is looking to raise £25,000 to cover legal costs.

She says, “Like many other people, I wrote objections to the plans for four more oil wells and 20 years of production at Horse Hill. So I was dismayed when the planning committee ignored our well-researched objections. Read the rest of this entry >>

Following the shocking decision by Surrey County Council to approve four new oil wells at Horse Hill (bringing the total to six) – and commercial oil production for more than 20 years – there will be a demonstration at Horse Hill on Saturday 26th October.

A collaboration of climate campaign groups, Horse Hill Rebel Alliance, invites you to join this legal, peaceful protest to highlight the dangers of more oil drilling in a time of climate chaos.

Meet at the junction of Horse Hill with the A217 (opposite the Black Horse) at 10.30am to hear a few short speeches, then walk up to the drill site to hear a few more speakers at midday.

Please bring:

• banners, placards, flags
• your friends and families
• your smiles.

There will be tea, coffee and cake.

If you can assist in any way with stewarding, teas or coffee or publicising this event, please contact horsehillrebelalliance@protonmail.com

There will be a shuttle bus from Horley station to the meeting point. Or get the 100 Fastway bus from Gatwick Airport to Povey Cross, then it’s a 15 minute walk to the meeting point.

Parking is limited so please avoid driving if you can – and if you do drive, allow time to find a parking space and walk to the meeting point.

Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/1006470126351417

Come to a public meeting in Horley on 25 September to find out more about what’s planned – and how we intend to challenge the planning permission.

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Campaigners from the Weald Action Group were deeply concerned and disappointed when Councillors on the Surrey County Council Planning and Regulatory Committee voted today to give the go-ahead to massive expansion of oil drilling at Horse Hill, near Horley.

Horse Hill Developments Ltd now has the green light to drill five new wells (one for water reinjection, which is implicated in causing earthquakes elsewhere) and commercial oil production for 25 years.*

James Knapp of Weald Action Group said, “Approving more drilling at Horse Hill was the wrong decision. The Weald Action Group and others had sent detailed submissions to the planning department, which were not properly represented to the Committee members.

“The Officer’s Report failed to take account of the changes in government policy on climate change, and didn’t address the risks of drilling in an active earthquake zone. We will seek legal advice on how to challenge this decision.”

*See a summary of the plans at: https://drillordrop.com/2019/09/09/planners-back-15-months-of-drilling-and-20-years-of-oil-production-in-surrey-green-belt/

The application for a huge expansion of oil drilling over 25 years at the Horse Hill site near Horley, comes up before Surrey County Council’s planning meeting next Wednesday (September 11th).

Demonstrators from local campaign groups and Extinction Rebellion will be present for a peaceful gathering from 9am outside the meeting, which is at County Hall in Kingston.

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UK Oil and Gas, which took over the licence covering the controversial Leith Hill oil site (1), has gained a two year extension until 2022 – despite no work having been carried out since 2004.

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