Traffic fears block shale bid

Developer Celtique Energy’s plans to drill a temporary test well at a site near the village of Wisborough Green were today refused by West Sussex County Council’s (WSCC) Planning Committee on the grounds that there were “too many highways issues”.

There were simply too many highways issues and other issues of concern

WSCC councillor Heidi Brunsdon

A statement issued by the council this afternoon said that Celtique’s application for a temporary three-year permission for oil and gas exploration was refused by councillors on the grounds that “the applicant had not demonstrated the site represented the best option compared to other sites, has unsafe highways access and would have an adverse impact on Wisborough Green as a conservation area”.

Speaking after the decision, WSCC Planning Committee chairman Heidi Brunsdon said: “There were simply too many highways issues and other issues of concern for any decision other than refusal in this instance. We have noted the objections of the local community and I felt that the debate today was a full and robust one.” ??

Nearly 100 people attended this morning’s meeting at County Hall North in Horsham to hear the debate and decision.

In its planning application Celtique had made it clear that while the exploration may involve drilling through shale formations, any attempts to carry out hydraulic fracturing on the shale would require a separate subsequent planning application.

However, this did not stop green campaigners describing today’s decision as a victory against fracking, with Friends of the Earth tweeting the following:

Celtique Energy was unavailable for comment.