BALCOMBE DRILLING: Committee chairman defends planning approval

JPCT 290414 S14181688x Horshamn. County Hall North, fracking protest -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140429-103701001

The committee approved the plans at a packed meeting in Horsham’s County Hall North.

Heidi Brunsdon, chairman of the committee, said after the decision: “As chairman I thought the debate was robust. Members gave all the issues a good airing and the further conditions we agreed might not go as far as some would have wanted, but we feel they were proportionate and fair in addressing the issues that members of the committee had surrounding this application.”

Cuadrilla may go ahead with the temporary drilling while abiding by several conditions imposed in response to objections raised to the application by Cuadrilla.

These are the following:

• 24-hour light monitoring around the edge of the site be undertaken to protect wildlife

• Proposed access routes to be reconsidered by Cuadrilla as a result of concerns raised.

• That all sound from the site be continuously monitored.

• That a liaison group is established between residents and Cuadrilla.

More than 100 members of the public attended today’s meeting at County Hall North in Horsham.

The meeting was webcast live. It has been archived and it can be viewed again in full via the county council’s website.