Energy firm wins Surrey Hills oil drilling battle

An energy company has won a long-running battle to carry out exploratory oil drilling in the Surrey Hills.

Europa Oil & Gas had appealed against a decision by Surrey County Council to refuse permission to drill in Holmwood.

A government inspector allowed the appeal and granted planning permission.

He said he was satisfied with groundwater monitoring, an updated ecology statement had been received, and he was also satisfied with the adequacy of the environmental input.

Leith Hill Action Group campaigners who opposed the plans said they were disappointed and now looked to Surrey County Council to monitor the work to minimise adverse impact on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In a statement, Europa said this decision allowed the firm to drill one exploratory borehole and test for hydrocarbons, but a further planning application had been submitted for an underground well path.

The company said it was awaiting Surrey County Council's decision on the second application before considering its next steps.

Adding that Europa first applied to drill in Holmwood in 2008, leading to an earlier planning appeal and subsequent High Court action, chief executive Hugh Mackay welcomed the planning inspector's decision.

He said: "We regard Holmwood as one of the best undrilled conventional prospects in onshore UK."

The county council has not yet commented.