Surrey at risk of 16 new fracking sites as Government gives the green light

The Guildford Liberal Democrats have uncovered new evidence which reveals Surrey could face even more oil and gas exploration, including fracking.

The government plans to officially lift a ban on fracking for shale gas by reviewing the level of earthquakes allowed at sites. Today, the British Geological Survey published a report which refuses to endorse fracking. The House of Commons Environment Committee has previously warned that fracking poses a "risk to groundwater and a risk of polluting surface water". They warned too that the need for "considerable quantities of water" for fracking "could pose localised risks to water supplies".

The new analysis of areas in the country which have been granted a licence by the Government for oil and gas exploration has found Surrey faces at least 16 new fracking sites. The site's total size of areas granted a fracking licence across Surrey equates to a staggering 51,256 football pitches.

Guildford, South West Surrey, and East Surrey are among the worst hit constituencies in the country. In Guildford, 28% of the land in the constituency is earmarked for potential drilling, while in South West Surrey the licence covers more than a third of the seat. East Surrey sees a staggering 47.2% of land under licence for fracking

It comes after the government approved oil drilling in Dunsfold, near the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, despite opposition from the local community. The Liberal Democrat-led Waverley Borough Council described the move as "the worst possible outcome" which could lead to "irreversible harm" to the environment.

The decision to lift the ban on fracking represents a major u-turn for the government, with Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng having previously stated that gas drilling would not bring gas prices and energy bills down.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Guildford Zöe Franklin said:

"The Surrey Hills are at risk of being ripped up by dangerous and unnecessary drilling.

"Oil and gas barons from around the world are queuing up to drill in Surrey's countryside and I fear local people will have no say in the matter whatsoever. I am urging Conservative MPs in Surrey to stand up to their new Prime Minister and vote down these shameful new proposals.

"Guildford and Cranleigh's landscape is already at risk from the ghastly gas drilling proposed near Dunsfold. It is a kick in the teeth that even the Government admits this kind of drilling won't bring down energy prices. The local Liberal Democrats have been fighting tooth and nail against the unnecessary ripping up of our green spaces and will continue to defend local people's interests."

Further Information:

Oil and gas licences data is from the North Sea Transition Authority mapped by Friends of the Earth - UK fracking map | Friends of the Earth

The current Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has previously admitted that additional fracking in the UK won't materially affect the wholesale market price of gas.

Read the previous media comment from Zöe Franklin and Paul Follows (Lib Dem Candidate for South West Surrey and Leader of Waverley Borough Council) here: https://guildfordlibdems.org.uk/en/article/2022/1430907/press-release-lib-dems-slam-conservative-go-ahead-for-fossil-fuel-drilling-near-dunsfold-in-waverley

Waverley's description of the Dunsfold drilling decision can be found here Dunsfold gas drilling application approved by Government - BBC News and Waverley seeks to challenge drilling decision.