Activists and Liberal Democrats have criticized government after minister rejected the Toriesrun advice to approve gas drilling on in edge of Surrey Hills, despite accepting the scheme, cause damage to the natural landscape.
decision formally announced in written statement of the housing stock minister Stewart Andrew, gives green light up to three years of exploratory drilling in the area near edge of Surrey Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).
Website in District of South West Surrey of Jeremy Hunt former health secretary, who strongly opposed project.
Activists said that decision showed “obsession” with find new development of fossil fuels, and that this is likely to provoke protests.
The plan was rejected by Surrey County Council, but subsequent public request recommended it should come on, ah decision which was then evaluated by the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, who approved it.
This means UK Oil and Gas will be allowed to operate a non-fracturing gas well near Dunsfold to the south. of Guildford, close to the border of AONB, with permission for a new crossroads, access route and fence around the border.
decision – made Andrew after Michael Gove, alignment up secretaryresigned because his constituency in neighboring part of Surrey – agreed that drilling would require a “significant level of landscape and visual impacts from the proposal”, including the loss of hedgerows, something softened by the end period of operation.
Noting that permission project conflicted with Surrey’s own leadership, decision also acknowledged that “it has not been demonstrated that the site was chosen to minimize adverse environmental impacts.”
proposal, it added”would result in damage to landscape character and appearance of in area and degrade the quality of Settings of AONB”, stating that while the impact on AONB will be limited, area “is of height sensitivity”.
Ministerial decision said “limited” weight should be given to any local economic benefits, but the overall assessment was that “exploration and evaluation are a necessary part of of mineral development and without him currently recognized benefits of production cannot be realized.
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While decision not related to fracking, resolution for exploration gas drilling site in such location resurrect memories of previous protests against fracking schemes.
After significant local opposition, along with with concerns about the possibility of earth shocks, hydraulic fracturing stopped in UK since 2019. In April ministers announced research into its safety, raising hopes that a practice that is popular with some Conservative MPs may be renewed.
Greenpeace said the ministers had an “unhealthy obsession with find new fossil fuels.” Doug Parr, this is UK policy director said: “With this decision in government completely undermines local democracy, planning laws that are supposed to protect our designated landscapes, and the climate crisis in one stroke.”
Tom Fiance head of policy in countryside charitable organization CPRE move was “absurd decision it is guaranteed to spark rage and desperation,” and will likely spark mass protests. He said, “This is unusual given the urgent need unlearn yourself off fossil fuel that government sees fit green-light gas field and damage the environment of en area of outstanding natural beauty”.
decision will be captured on by the Liberal Democrats who are actively campaigning in the so-called blue wall – Commuter owned by the Conservatives belt places mostly around London where discontent with conservatives and especially with Boris Johnson makes them politically vulnerable.
Although Hunt’s seat is relatively safe, the seat is closely adjacent to the Guildford constituency, where incumbent Conservative MP Angela Richardson has a majority. of just above 3000 over liberal democrats.
Ed Davy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said it was “shameful that the Conservatives ignored the concerns.” of local communities” and approved the scheme. “Michael Gove should reconsider this reckless decision which risks causing irreparable damage to our cherished countryside while undermining efforts to combat the climate emergency,” he said.
Contacted UK Oil and Gas for comment.
