By tf-lawyer.com A campaigner who initiated a legal challenge resulting in the cancellation of planning permission for oil drilling near Gatwick is now urging for an immediate halt to extraction activities.
In June, judges from the Supreme Court determined that Surrey County Council had failed to consider the climate impacts of burning oil from the Horse Hill site, located just outside Horley. While the council is currently “assessing any potential next steps,” the drilling company involved maintains that the ruling does not require them to cease production.
Sarah Finch, a member of the Weald Action Group and the individual behind this landmark case, expressed a desire to see the site shut down before any new planning application is filed. “The judgment clearly stated that the planning permission was quashed—meaning there is currently no valid planning permission,” Finch told BBC Radio Surrey. “Surrey County Council is the planning authority, and it’s their responsibility to ensure that no activities occur without the appropriate permissions.”
Finch emphasized the urgency of her request, stating, “I want to see the council implement a temporary stop order at that site before any potential retrospective application is submitted. If they’re going to do it, they need to act quickly.” She also hopes for the site’s restoration to agricultural land and woodland.
The Reverend Helen Burnett, who has been protesting at Horse Hill for five years, echoed Finch’s sentiments. Burnett, who has faced fines for her activism, remarked, “What happens in this obscure corner of Surrey and within the local council has significant implications for oil extraction planning permissions across the UK.”
The Horse Hill site, operated by UK Oil and Gas PLC (UKOG), has six wells capable of yielding three million tonnes of oil over the next two decades. A spokesperson for the company stated, “We are in ongoing discussions with Surrey County Council and other regulators concerning the retroactive reinstatement of planning permission at Horse Hill. The Supreme Court ruling did not order us to stop production; rather, it indicated that Surrey should have considered end users before granting permission.” They are currently working with the council to submit new plans.
In response to the Supreme Court ruling, a council representative stated, “The planning enforcement team is actively investigating the Horse Hill development and is evaluating any potential next steps.” They acknowledged that the ruling necessitates a reevaluation of the application process. “We are actively undertaking an enforcement investigation, and it would not be appropriate to provide additional comments while this process is underway,” they added. UKOG has also been contacted for further statements.
