Stop Oil and Gas Exploration in Dunsfold, Surrey
Stop Oil and Gas Exploration in Dunsfold, Surrey
Why this petition matters
“It falls on every one of us to make a stand. It may sound frightening, but the scientific evidence is that if we have not taken dramatic action within the next decade, we could face irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies.” Sir David Attenborough
Despite an 80% planning objection by the local community a planning application by UK Oil and Gas Ltd was validated by Surrey County Council which is allows Oil & Gas drilling, at a proposed site in the naturally beautiful area of Dunsfold.
UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) is seeking planning permission to drill vertical and sidetrack wells for three years and would involve four phases of work:
Access and well site construction – 14 weeks
Drilling, testing and appraisal using a 38m high rig– 60 weeks
Plugging, abandonment and decommissioning – 5 weeks
restoration – 5 weeks
The company has said the maximum number of movements by heavy goods vehicle would be 20 per day.
The research into the legitimate concerns of the environmental and health impacts that this activity creates is overwhelming, and yet the project may well go ahead. The site is just outside the Green Belt and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and next to an ancient Woodland. Oil drilling has the potential to cause earth quakes and will impact the air and water quality, create noise pollution, and therefore seriously effect all the local community. Moreover, this disruption and loss of vegetation will drastically cause unacceptable impacts on the wildlife and its biodiversity.
Surrey Wildlife Trust has objected to the project due to the impacts on climate change, ecology and the natural environment.
The nearest home, Thatched House Farm, is 330m from the site, supports a number of businesses and hosts an internationally-recognised cancer awareness festival each year.
The world’s leading climate scientists have warned there is only 10 years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. Yet we are still not listening and projects like this are possibly going ahead.
The planning decision for this application lies with Surrey County Council. Waverley Borough Council is a statutory consultee, as is Dunsfold Parish Council.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please sign and share this petition.
By gaining enough signatures, we can present the petition to Surrey County Council to help make clear the opposition to this project. We can take action to protect this area of outstanding natural beauty and choose to listen to Our Planet to create a safer climate, with flourishing nature, and healthy air, food and water.
There is not much time so please take your opportunity to have your say.
Waverley Council collecting local views on the proposal. A meeting to decide will be in September 2020.
If you would like to keep up with progress on the application, or understand more about the matters please see the pages below
https://www.protect.dunsfold.net/
Thank you!
