5 March 2024 – A campaign group in Lincolnshire has been granted permission to legally challenge the government’s decision to permit an oil company to develop a new oil field in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
The Lincolnshire Wolds is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and provides a habitat for nature and wildlife. With its rolling hills, stunning countryside and beautiful walks, the Lincolnshire Wolds is a hidden treasure not many people know of.
The county of Lincolnshire is often assumed to be flat and dominated by farmland. However, the Wolds are a heaven of natural beauty for wildlife and humans alike. But now it’s at risk from becoming a site for oil drilling.
With the decision to grant campaigners the right to challenge the decision by the government’s Planning Inspectorate to grant permission for a new oil field in the Lincolnshire Wolds in court, not all is lost just yet.
Government Overturns Local Council’s Decision
The oil company Egdon Resources applied for permission to drill for oil at the village of Biscathorpe in the Lincolnshire Wolds, which was rejected by the local council in 2021. The area of Biscathorpe is recognised as being of ecological significance.
Egdon Resources appealed the decision and in 2023 the government’s Planning Inspectorate overturned the decision, giving the oil company the go-ahead to drill for oil in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) for the next 15 years.
The planning inspector who looked at the case and ruled in favour of the oil company justified the decision with the national need for oil for energy security. Even though he admitted that this new oil well would cause harm to the landscape and beauty of the area.
He further agreed with Lincolnshire County Council, who refused the application, that the planned oil filed does not comply with local policies. But all this didn’t stop him from overturning the council’s decision and grant permission for oil drilling to begin.
The government’s decision has been highly unpopular with locals who feel their wishes have been ignored.
At all levels of local democracy I think everybody who could say no said no … but still they are trying to ignore that.
Amanda Suddaby, SOS Biscathorpe
A local campaign group, SOS Biscathorpe, has been set up to fight the new oil field. Now the group has won permission to have the government’s decision reviewed by the High Court.
Harm Outweighs Potential Gain
Matilda Dennis, who will represent SOS Biscathorpe during the judicial review, says that the inspector’s decision has been irrational, because it gave too much weight to a potential small gain while ignoring the considerate harm the oil well would to the landscape and climate.
She argues that the potential contribution of the oil drilled at Biscathorpe to national energy security is small and uncertain. Furthermore, she says that the impacts on the area and the climate should be seen as important factors and need to be taken into consideration.
Ms Dennis also argues that the decision was unlawful, because the inspector breached Environmental Impact Regulations. These state that greenhouse gas emissions from burning the oil needs to be taken into account.
The claim made by the inspector, that the new oil field in the Lincolnshire Wolds may reduce oil output in other countries, is not supported by any evidence.
The campaigners also claim that the inspector misinterpreted planning guidance regarding major developments in AONBs. This guidance states that planning permission should be refused, unless exceptional circumstances are present and the development is in the public interest.
Later this year, a judge at the High Court will review the inspector’s decision and take Ms Dennis’ arguments into account. The ruling is likely to have a big impact on other planned fossil fuel developments in Areas of Oustanding Natural Beauty across the country.
Our Opinion
This issue is close to our heart here at EcoHomeLife, because we are based in Lincolnshire and visit the Lincolnshire Wolds often for walks and to soak up the beautiful landscape.
The decision by the government’s Planning Inspectorate to overturn the local council’s decision shows yet again that the government has turned its back on the fight against climate change.
Its claims it would contribute to the country’s energy security just don’t stack up. When the government first announced last year it will licence new gas and oil fields to ensure energy security, experts disputed this.
An analysis by Uplift showed that new gas and oil productions won’t do much for the UK’s energy security, because the vast majority of it is sold to the highest bidder, rather than used domestically.
So the main reason for allowing these new developments is invalid. And allowing new oil fields in AONBs is just not logical. It has been recognised how important these areas are in the fight against climate change, when they were re-branded as ‘National Landscapes’ recently.
It’s very concerning that the government seems to ignore all these facts, just to pursue their fossil fuel obsessed path. We have to do all we can to stop them and protect our natural world.
SOS Biscathorpe has set up a crowdfunding page to fund their campaign against the new oil field in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
