Oil prospecting in Sussex and Hampshire
Kate | 08.05.2008 13:17 | Ecology | Social Struggles | South Coast
The prospects of $200 a barrel oil in the near future is making oil prospecting in Sussex and Hampshire look ever more likely. Residents nearby the proposed Northern petroleum sites at Hedge End, Hampshire and Forestside, West Sussex are anxiously awaiting the decisions of council planning officers. The sites are believed to contain several hundred million barrels of oil.
Both projects have been proposed by Northern Petroleum, which is listed on the AIM market and is the favourite of various hedge funds. Apparently, Hedge End was put forward as a potential drilling site in 1988, but according to the firm environmental opposition prevented it from going ahead. Below are 2 pieces on the projects from MEP and local rag.
Chris Huhne Says County Decision on Hedge End Oil Drilling is Flawed
Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne today protested at the way Hampshire County council proposes to take the decision on whether to drill for oil in Hedge End.
In a letter to Cllr Ken Thornber, the Conservative leader of the county, Mr Huhne says that the process of deciding is flawed because the county is "judge and jury in its own cause".
Mr Huhne, who is also the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate, said that it was against the rules of natural justice that local authorities should be able to determine planning applications in their own favour as they have a clear conflict of interest.
"Hampshire County Council owns the land at Hedge End where the proposed oil drilling will take place, and is also the planning authority that will decide whether to drill. That is a clear conflict of interest that means that it cannot decide impartially on behalf of local residents" said Mr Huhne.
"This is a wholly inappropriate site for a noisy and disruptive industrial activity since it is close to two residential areas and the Berrywood primary school. In addition, it is likely to have an adverse impact on the very pleasant brook that runs through the field and which is a valued local amenity" said Mr Huhne.
"The key grounds for objection is simply that an industrial site should not be approved so close to residential areas if zoning is to make any sense at all" said Mr Huhne.
Mr Huhne has asked Mr Thornber whether alternative sites to access the potential oil deposits have been considered, given that the drilling takes place at an angle to the potential deposits and there are therefore many potential alternative sites that could be used. He particularly asks the county to consider alternatives that they do not themselves own.
http://eastleighlibdems.org.uk/news/000161/stop_hedge_end_oil_plans_says_mep.html
Hunt for oil on the Downs
An oil company plans to drill for black gold under the South Downs.
Ancient woodland in the small village of Forestside, to the west of Chichester, could become the latest outpost in the hunt for oil if planners give an exploratory scheme the go-ahead.
On Tuesday, West Sussex County Council's planning committee meets to decide on an application for the project from drilling company Northern Petroleum.
The firm wants to clear a hectare of Markwell's Wood at South Holt Farm and use a 36m drill 24 hours a day to delve for a share of the estimated 200 million barrels of oil it believes is buried deep in the ground.
With the price of oil having soared to more than £60 a barrel, the site potentially contains fuel worth at least £12 billion.
But as well as being earmarked as National Park land, the woods are in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. That, coupled with the site's proximity to homes, has prompted a stream of objections from Chichester District Council, the South Downs Joint Committee, West Sussex County Council and the Woodland Trust as well as people living nearby.
Concerns centre on the impact of noise and truck movements in the protected area as well as the visual damage caused by the work and the loss of ancient woodland.
Despite several calls from The Argus, the company yesterday refused to discuss its plans for the site.
Northern Petroleum is confident there is a deep reserve of oil across the north of the county and that the potential for striking a rich seam in this rural corner of Sussex is high.
Oil is already being drawn in nearby Singleton from a pumping station which began operating in 1991 and filled 29,537 barrels last year alone.
Another in Storrington, which began pumping oil in 1999, produced 9,511 barrels last year. Just across the Hampshire border in Horndean, a site which began operating in 1988, produced more than 10,000 barrels last year.
In their report to the committee, the council's officers recommend that the plans are approved.
They state that there is "a clear and overriding need for oil exploration"
in order to promote competitive markets and maintain the reliability of energy supplies.
Access to the site would be gained from the northern side of Forestside Road through an existing farm entrance. The road would then pass behind several homes in Forestside on its route to the site.
One person whose house backs on to the proposed site and access road is Sharon Ordish, who has lived in the village for 14 years.
She said: "It may seem selfish but I don't want to see trucks trundling down the lane behind my house. It's so peaceful and beautiful here.
"I don't see why they need to find some more oil. It's a waste of time. They should be spending money on renewable energy instead."
The effect of the clearing and drilling operation on the abundant wildlife in the area has also been called into question.
In a letter to the county council John Simons, of nearby Dean Lane End, listed a number of species which he said would be affected by the proposals, including buzzards, badgers, foxes, hares, stoats, weasels and a variety of songbirds.
He said: "The area is particularly beautiful and it must be protected and preserved for the future.
"This development will ruin the area and the tower will stick above the trees. The noise from the site and increased traffic will affect people who live in the area.
"If oil is found in sufficient volume and quality to commercially justify its extraction, then what will be the effect of that?
"As a countryman the whole proposal makes me shudder.
"It is alien to this environment and must be rejected by the council."
If planning permission is granted Northern Petroleum would have three years on the site to clear it, cover it in a 30cm layer of stone, set up its 36m tall drilling rig, search for oil and return the land to its previous state.
It maintains that the site would be busy for only about 19 weeks of that time and if oil is found, a separate planning application for future works would have to be gained.
Chris Huhne Says County Decision on Hedge End Oil Drilling is Flawed
Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne today protested at the way Hampshire County council proposes to take the decision on whether to drill for oil in Hedge End.
In a letter to Cllr Ken Thornber, the Conservative leader of the county, Mr Huhne says that the process of deciding is flawed because the county is "judge and jury in its own cause".
Mr Huhne, who is also the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate, said that it was against the rules of natural justice that local authorities should be able to determine planning applications in their own favour as they have a clear conflict of interest.
"Hampshire County Council owns the land at Hedge End where the proposed oil drilling will take place, and is also the planning authority that will decide whether to drill. That is a clear conflict of interest that means that it cannot decide impartially on behalf of local residents" said Mr Huhne.
"This is a wholly inappropriate site for a noisy and disruptive industrial activity since it is close to two residential areas and the Berrywood primary school. In addition, it is likely to have an adverse impact on the very pleasant brook that runs through the field and which is a valued local amenity" said Mr Huhne.
"The key grounds for objection is simply that an industrial site should not be approved so close to residential areas if zoning is to make any sense at all" said Mr Huhne.
Mr Huhne has asked Mr Thornber whether alternative sites to access the potential oil deposits have been considered, given that the drilling takes place at an angle to the potential deposits and there are therefore many potential alternative sites that could be used. He particularly asks the county to consider alternatives that they do not themselves own.
http://eastleighlibdems.org.uk/news/000161/stop_hedge_end_oil_plans_says_mep.html Hunt for oil on the Downs
An oil company plans to drill for black gold under the South Downs.
Ancient woodland in the small village of Forestside, to the west of Chichester, could become the latest outpost in the hunt for oil if planners give an exploratory scheme the go-ahead.
On Tuesday, West Sussex County Council's planning committee meets to decide on an application for the project from drilling company Northern Petroleum.
The firm wants to clear a hectare of Markwell's Wood at South Holt Farm and use a 36m drill 24 hours a day to delve for a share of the estimated 200 million barrels of oil it believes is buried deep in the ground.
With the price of oil having soared to more than £60 a barrel, the site potentially contains fuel worth at least £12 billion.
But as well as being earmarked as National Park land, the woods are in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. That, coupled with the site's proximity to homes, has prompted a stream of objections from Chichester District Council, the South Downs Joint Committee, West Sussex County Council and the Woodland Trust as well as people living nearby.
Concerns centre on the impact of noise and truck movements in the protected area as well as the visual damage caused by the work and the loss of ancient woodland.
Despite several calls from The Argus, the company yesterday refused to discuss its plans for the site.
Northern Petroleum is confident there is a deep reserve of oil across the north of the county and that the potential for striking a rich seam in this rural corner of Sussex is high.
Oil is already being drawn in nearby Singleton from a pumping station which began operating in 1991 and filled 29,537 barrels last year alone.
Another in Storrington, which began pumping oil in 1999, produced 9,511 barrels last year. Just across the Hampshire border in Horndean, a site which began operating in 1988, produced more than 10,000 barrels last year.
In their report to the committee, the council's officers recommend that the plans are approved.
They state that there is "a clear and overriding need for oil exploration"
in order to promote competitive markets and maintain the reliability of energy supplies.
Access to the site would be gained from the northern side of Forestside Road through an existing farm entrance. The road would then pass behind several homes in Forestside on its route to the site.
One person whose house backs on to the proposed site and access road is Sharon Ordish, who has lived in the village for 14 years.
She said: "It may seem selfish but I don't want to see trucks trundling down the lane behind my house. It's so peaceful and beautiful here.
"I don't see why they need to find some more oil. It's a waste of time. They should be spending money on renewable energy instead."
The effect of the clearing and drilling operation on the abundant wildlife in the area has also been called into question.
In a letter to the county council John Simons, of nearby Dean Lane End, listed a number of species which he said would be affected by the proposals, including buzzards, badgers, foxes, hares, stoats, weasels and a variety of songbirds.
He said: "The area is particularly beautiful and it must be protected and preserved for the future.
"This development will ruin the area and the tower will stick above the trees. The noise from the site and increased traffic will affect people who live in the area.
"If oil is found in sufficient volume and quality to commercially justify its extraction, then what will be the effect of that?
"As a countryman the whole proposal makes me shudder.
"It is alien to this environment and must be rejected by the council."
If planning permission is granted Northern Petroleum would have three years on the site to clear it, cover it in a 30cm layer of stone, set up its 36m tall drilling rig, search for oil and return the land to its previous state.
It maintains that the site would be busy for only about 19 weeks of that time and if oil is found, a separate planning application for future works would have to be gained.
Kate