Bad News in Prospect: South Downs Oil Drill given the Go-Ahead
Environmental pressure group the South Downs Society hit out at today’s decision (13 May 2008) by West Sussex County Council to approve an application by Northern Petroleum to prospect for oil in a beautiful part of the Downs near the border between Sussex and Hampshire.
The company has been given a three-year permit to allow drilling in Markwells Wood, an area of ancient woodland north of Rowlands Castle. Environmentalists say this is unacceptable in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and designated National Park.
Said Society Director Jacquetta Fewster, “The damage to habitat, destruction of trees and hedgerows, the visual impact of the drilling tower and its lighting, construction of a new access though the wood, noise from vehicles: all of this is just inappropriate in the Downs where people go for peace and quiet.
“You can say this is only for three years but it’s still very damaging and could lead to commercial working of any oil that’s discovered – and who believes that’s going to look right in the National Park?”