An application by Celtique Energie to create a temporary exploratory hydrocarbon (oil/gas) site to test drill for shale oil on land near the village of Wisborough Green in West Sussex has been turned down this week by  West Sussex County Council.

Celtique Energie had applied for the installation of a well and associated infrastructure, including access road and soil bunds, for the drilling of a vertical borehole and contingent horizontal borehole from the same well for the exploration, testing and evaluation of hydrocarbons for a temporary period of three years.

West Sussex received a total of 2,471 objections from third parties and 18 representations in support. According to the Planning Committee, many representations raised concerns over the potential for the development to adversely affect both surface and groundwater quality and result in increased flood risk. Wisborough Green Parish Council, Kirdford Parish Council and Loxwood Parish Council have objected to the proposal, as has the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

However, the application has been turned down primarily due to concerns over highway safety and HGV transport movements associated with the site.

The Highway Authority had objected to the proposal due to concerns over highway safety, and because the applicant had not demonstrated there would be no impact on highway capacity. The applicant has not accurately assessed the number of HGVs likely to result from the development. It is therefore unclear what impact of the additional HGVs would have on residential amenity through increased noise. No other impacts are considered to be of concern in relation to public health and amenity.

According to the comprehensive paper published by the Planning Committee setting out the detail of its assessment of the application no other statutory consultees have raised objections on other issues – including the water environment.

No concerns over impact on water environment

The Planning Committee’s decision states that with regard to potential impacts to the water environment, the Environment Agency and other relevant consultees, including Southern Water, were satisfied that the development would not be adverse in relation to the water environment, particularly with measures put in place to contain surface water run-off within the site.

The key potential risks to the water environment included:

• through run-off from the site carrying potential contaminants;
• through materials used in the drilling process (which would include hydrochloric acid, and oil-based mud below the Upper Kimmeridge Clay layer) leaking into the water environment;
• through increased flood risk through sealing an area of farmland which was previously free-draining.

The main risks identified to groundwater were through failure of the well casing, leaking of chemicals and hydrocarbons, and through migration of liquid from the borehole – all issues addressed through regulation by the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive.

The Environment Agency advice was that the development posed a negligible risk to groundwater  and noted that the main risk to the water environment from the development would be through surface water. The Agency said it was satisfied that the measures outlined in Celtique Energy’s submission meant that surface water from the site would be contained and the surface water environment protected from potential pollution resulting from the development.

With regard to one response which raised concerns related to fracking, the Planning Committee said this did not form part of the present application. The Planning Committee’s decision paper states:

“Overall it is concluded that the development would be carried out in a way that would ensure that ground water and surface water are protected, and that flood risk is not increased. Therefore, subject to the imposition of conditions, the development is considered to be acceptable in terms of its impact on the water environment. “

Friends of the Earth have expressed their satisfaction with the refusal, commenting:

 "This was absolutely the right decision. Nobody wants to see Sussex ruined by industrial drilling for dirty fossil fuels. If Celtique had been allowed to test for oil or gas, then there’s every chance that fracking would have followed. “

However, the option still remains for Celtique Energie to return with a revised application – the Planning Committee states:

“The County Planning Authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application by determining the application within a timely manner, clearly setting out the reasons for refusal, and giving the applicant an opportunity to overcome the likely reasons for refusal.”