South Downs oil drilling approved

Separate permission would be needed to pump oil if it was found

An oil company has been given permission to drill in an area of ancient woodland under the South Downs.

Northern Petroleum was granted temporary three-year consent to test for oil in Markwells Wood in the village of Forestside, near Chichester.

West Sussex County Council's planning committee approved the application with only one abstention from the vote.

The Woodland Trust said it was "an act of vandalism on our natural heritage" on an "irreplaceable" site.

Rainforest equivalent

Council officers told the committee there was a "clear and overriding need" for oil exploration and that the development accorded with the National Minerals Policy.

Drilling will mean the loss of about a hectare of ancient woodland in a site which falls inside the proposed South Downs National Park, and is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Northern Petroleum, an operator of both onshore and offshore projects, could seek permission for further testing or extraction if its 36m (118ft) drilling rig finds oil.

Alice Farr, from the Woodland Trust, expressed fears that if the initial exploration was successful in finding oil, further areas of surrounding countryside could be affected.

We wish to be a good neighbour in the community and good custodians of the environment Northern Petroleum spokesperson

She said: "Ancient woodland is the richest habitat for species in the UK, the UK's equivalent of rainforests.

"The complex undisturbed soils are irreplaceable and once destroyed, are lost forever."

She added: "Climate change is the greatest long-term threat to ancient woodland and this decision flies in the face of that."

Chichester District Council, South Downs Joint Committee and Friends of the Earth have also said they are against the plan, but Natural England and the Environment Agency have not objected.

Nathaniel Belderson, from South Downs Joint Committee, said: "We are pleased to note that the granting of temporary permission is subject to the restoration of the site to structured woodland following the end of oil exploration."

'Extensive evaluation'

Drilling is expected to take place 24 hours a day over a four to five-week period.

In a statement, Northern Petroleum said the site would be an extension of the nearby Horndean oilfield.

The company said it had carried out an "extensive evaluation" of potential sites which could both fulfil its technical requirements and minimise the impact on the local community of issues such as visibility, noise and road access.

Once drilling is finished, the site must be cleared, replanted with trees and shrubs, and looked after for five years.

A spokesperson for Northern Petroleum said: "We wish to be a good neighbour in the community and good custodians of the environment."