Developers have actually put on hold oil removal at a website in Surrey 4 months after the Supreme Court subdued its preparation authorization.
Climate project team Friends of the Earth, which sustained neighborhood lobbyist Sarah Finch throughout the initial instance, sent out a lawful letter to Surrey County Council last Tuesday over the “unlawful” proceeded removal at Horse Hill, near Horley.
Lawyers for the team advised the council to take prompt enforcement activity versus the programmer, offering it one week to react.
The council has because claimed its setting is that the recurring removal is illegal, including that any type of growth on the website is susceptible to official enforcement activity.
The Horse Hill programmer’s proprietor, UK Oil & & Gas (UKOG), verified it made guidelines to “voluntarily suspend oil production” at the website efficient from last Friday, October 25.
Reacting to the action, Niall Toru, attorney at Friends of the Earth, claimed: “We are thrilled the developer of the Horse Hill project finally suspended oil drilling at the site.
“This is much owed to the tireless efforts of local activists who have kept up pressure against the development after many years of campaigning. The fact it went unchecked for four months raises serious questions for Surrey County Council (SCC).
“We hope this signals the end of the Horse Hill development once and for all.”
During the initial lawful fight, Ms Finch– acting upon part of Weald Action Group– suggested that the ecological influence analysis executed throughout the preparation procedure ought to have considered the “downstream” exhausts created when the oil was shed– as opposed to simply the straight influence of drawing out the oil.
The Supreme Court’s site reasoning in June ruled that exhausts produced by shedding nonrenewable fuel sources ought to be thought about for brand-new boring websites, subduing Surrey County Council’s choice to approve the growth preparation authorization.
But, according to numbers from the sector regulatory authority, the Horse Hill website remained to create oil, with 138 tonnes removed in July alone– comparable to 33 barrels a day.
Environmental advocate Sarah Finch (centre) with fans outside the Supreme Court in London (Callum Parke/ )
The programmer’s moms and dad firm indicated that it was taken part in talks relating to a retroactive reinstatement of preparing authorization for its current tasks.
In a declaration, UKOG claimed its subsidiary, Horse Hill Developments Ltd (HHDL), has actually been collaborating with the council “to find the most pragmatic way forward to achieve the required planning re-determination”, consisting of website gos to.
“It should be noted that the Supreme Court’s decision was not the result of any action, error or omission by the company or its subsidiary, HHDL, and that HHDL has acted as a responsible operator in full regulatory compliance during the six years of production planning consent,” it claimed.
“A detailed plan for a safe, full suspension of related operations and activities, including the necessary safe emptying and cleaning of storage tanks, flow lines and other process equipment, will be implemented following SCC’s concurrence.”
A truck leaves Horse Hill Developments in Horley, Surrey (Gareth Fuller/ )
In a declaration on Friday, the council claimed: “Following the Supreme Court decision, there is no planning permission for oil production at the site.
“The council’s position is that such oil production is therefore unlawful.
“Any development carried out in the absence of planning permission is vulnerable to formal enforcement action.
“The County Council is continuing its enforcement investigation and will determine whether formal enforcement action is expedient. While the investigation is continuing it is not possible to comment further.”
Katie de Kauwe, attorney at Friends of the Earth, claimed: “It’s jaw-dropping that oil production has continued at Horse Hill for four months after our highest court quashed the planning permission.
“It’s hard to view this as anything other than a developer gaming the planning system and being allowed to get away with it.”
Ms Finch claimed: “Up and down the country fossil fuel projects have been stopped, paused and withdrawn following the Supreme Court’s important ruling on my case.
“It seems the only place where nothing has changed is Horse Hill itself, where UKOG is carrying on as if nothing has happened.”
