‘People have been listened to’: Oil drilling bid fails for third time

Local people “have been listened to”, according to campaigners, after a bid to drill for oil in North Lincolnshire was rejected for a third time.

The fresh plans lodged by Egdon Resources to North Lincolnshire Council to continue drilling at Lodge Farm, near Wressle, were turned down again by members of the authority’s planning committee.

It comes as councillors have already rejected proposals from the firm on twice over the past two years.

After three applications to North Lincolnshire Councils since November 2016, councillors said there had been “deep concerns” about the plan.

The oil well near Wressle, North Lincolnshire.

The new proposal would have seen the company retain the Wressle well site and drill for a period of 15 years.

Egdon said the plan “comprehensively” addressed previous concerns raised by councillors.

But, councillors said the proposal would have a negative impact on local residents and ground water.

Local campaigner Elizabeth Williams (right) with resident Amanda Suddaby.

Campaigner Elizabeth Williams, who has spoken against Egdon’s plans on two previous occasions, said councillors stuck to their principles.

“I think the people are being listened to and the representatives have taken notice of all the evidence that we have put before them,” she said.

“The council have listened to us and they have stuck to their staunchly held principles about the danger of unacceptable risk and harm to North Lincolnshire.”

But, Egdon said the application posed no threat to the environment.

Centre: Mark Abbott, managing director of Egdon Resources.

Mark Abbott, managing director of the firm, said the proposal had no objection from public bodies.

“None of the proposed well treatments would be of harm to the environment,” he said.

“Objectors continue to raise concern about ground water but there has been no objection from Public Health England or other bodies.”

But, Mayor of North Lincolnshire, Councillor John Briggs, said the committee had to consider how the plan would impact local residents.

“We always take the views of our residents into account,” he said.

“We have to think what this would mean for North Lincolnshire if we approved this.”

The proposal was unanimously refused by the council’s planning committee.

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