Chris Huhne Says County Decision on Hedge End Oil Drilling is Flawed

5.52.41pm GMT Tue 15th Mar 2005

Cllrs Carol Boulton & Derek Blampied at the site of the proposed oil well

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne today protested at the way Hampshire County council proposes to take the decision on whether to drill for oil in Hedge End.

In a letter to Cllr Ken Thornber, the Conservative leader of the county, Mr Huhne says that the process of deciding is flawed because the county is "judge and jury in its own cause".

Mr Huhne, who is also the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate, said that it was against the rules of natural justice that local authorities should be able to determine planning applications in their own favour as they have a clear conflict of interest.

"Hampshire County Council owns the land at Hedge End where the proposed oil drilling will take place, and is also the planning authority that will decide whether to drill. That is a clear conflict of interest that means that it cannot decide impartially on behalf of local residents" said Mr Huhne.

"This is a wholly inappropriate site for a noisy and disruptive industrial activity since it is close to two residential areas and the Berrywood primary school. In addition, it is likely to have an adverse impact on the very pleasant brook that runs through the field and which is a valued local amenity" said Mr Huhne.

"The key grounds for objection is simply that an industrial site should not be approved so close to residential areas if zoning is to make any sense at all" said Mr Huhne.

Mr Huhne has asked Mr Thornber whether alternative sites to access the potential oil deposits have been considered, given that the drilling takes place at an angle to the potential deposits and there are therefore many potential alternative sites that could be used. He particularly asks the county to consider alternatives that they do not themselves own.