Waverley Council Agrees Funding for Judicial Review on Oil and Gas Drilling

Published on: 13 May, 2023
Updated on: 16 May, 2023

High Court and Court Of Appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice, London

By Chris Caulfield

local democracy reporter

The June 8 judicial review against the Government’s decision to allow fossil fuel drilling near an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will go ahead.

Waverley Borough Council held a special meeting of its Executive committee to approve the £82,500 in funding to proceed – £32,500 for legal costs with a further £50,000 set aside in case it is liable for the oil driller’s costs.

According to the published papers, the Executive considered “it a moral imperative to continue its legal challenge”.

The money was approved on Thursday, May 11, as the council continues its four-year battle to stop UK Oil and Gas from drilling at Loxeley Well in Dunsfold – and means the judicial review into the exploratory drilling of £123 million of oil by UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) can proceed.

Addressing the meeting was Cllr Steve Williams, Green Party member and portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability.

He said: “In July 2019, we held a listening panel where we could listen to the views of residents on this proposal that was in the air to undertake on-shore drilling in Waverley, in Dunsfold.

“We listened and we listened to concern after concern in terms of the local environment as well as to the planet and the people of Dunsfold.

“The impact was absolutely clear and from that point on Waverley Borough Council saw it as its mission to do exactly that, to protect Dunsfold and to stop the drilling.

“It was consistent in terms of our position in declaring a climate emergency and committing ourselves to carbon neutrality.”

The original planning applications were rejected by Surrey County Council’s Planning Committee members in 2020. UKCOG then mounted an appeal which was eventually called in for review by the Secretary of State, Michael Gove. Mr Gove recused himself due to possible conflicts of interest, but former Housing Minister, Stuart Andrew ruled in favour of the plans.

Cllr Williams added: “Now is the opportunity for the Waverley Executive to follow this through.

“We would, if we did not do so, be inconsistent with our previous clear commitment on this issue.

“We would be neglecting our duty to the people of Dunsfold, we would be flying in the face of our climate emergency.

“It is imperative, for if we are to be successful in this, and I very much hope we shall be, but we should be putting our money where our mouth is, for the people of Dunsfold, for the natural environment, and for the planet.”

He said the council must “take the next step and secure that judicial review in the anticipation of the outcome we’ve been working for four years”.

Cllr Liz Townsend, Lib Dem member and portfolio holder for Planning and Economic Development, said the application had “wide implications”, not just for the borough, but the country as a whole.

She said: “It’s difficult to believe that the UK already has 509 fossil fuel sites specifically in protected areas.

“More than any other country in the world. South Downs national park already holds nine oil and gas sites.

“If the Loxley well site is successful how many other sites will be allowed?”

She added, while some may view this as a David versus Goliath battle we “should remember who was the winner of that conflict”.

The committee heard that the cost to residents would work out to about 65p per person but had the potential to set a national precedent.

The committee also called on Dunsfold and Alfold Parish Councils to offer their “substantive” and vocal support.