Devastating – reaction to Balcombe oil testing approval

Reacting to news that West Sussex County Council’s Planning committee has approved Cuadrilla’s plans to test the oil flow of their Balcombe well, in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Brenda Pollack, Friends of the Earth South East Campaigner said:

 “This is devastating news for villagers and everyone who wants a clean and safe environment to live in.

 “Where is the democracy when over 2,700 people objected to Cuadrilla returning to this beautiful rural part of Sussex?

 “Whether it’s fracking or not, dirty fossil fuels must be left in the ground. Allowing companies to drill underground for ever more difficult to extract oil and gas reserves is crazy when it won’t help keep polluting emissions down. We need to see a much bigger push for a cleaner future without an over-reliance on oil. Cleaner transport measures and reducing car and lorry movements is the way forward.

“The residents who came today showed what local people feel about this. Cuadrilla and companies like it are not welcome here. It seems like it's the government’s support for dirty oil and gas which is forcing these projects through.”

ENDS