The new plan, once adopted, will provide a long term planning policy framework dealing with the exploitation and conservation of all mineral resources within West Sussex and dredged off the coast. These comprise hard aggregates such as sands, sandstone and gravel (including recycled aggregates) and also hydrocarbons - shale oil and gas.
WSCC expects it to take up to three years for the new plan to be developed, examined and adopted. It would then last for 15 years until 2031. Minerals exploitation is a particularly sensitive issue given the rural nature of West Sussex and the extensive areas within the county that are within the South Downs National Park, one of our two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or are otherwise specially designated. It is positive that WSCC has sought to consult with CPRE and others at the outset of the new policy development process.
CPRE’s main concern at this stage is that, whilst the background papers designed to inform the development of the Councils’ new joint policy appear reasonably comprehensive in identifying the issues that will need to be addressed vis a vis hard aggregates, the Councils do need to focus much more attention on the different policy implications that the search for exploitable shale oil and its extraction will give rise to. A recent survey by the British Geological Society of shale formations below the Weald concludes that there are likely to be very considerable reserves of shale oil, but very little gas, beneath the Weald. However the extent to which those reserves will be commercially exploitable remains very uncertain, and will require further exploratory drilling; a conclusion which raises the troubling prospect of a proliferation of applications to explore for shale oil within West Sussex, and to exploit identified free shale oil deposits, with many of those applications potentially involving fracking. CPRE is naturally focussed on ensuring that future planning policy for oil or gas exploration and exploitation takes full account of the environmental hazards and associated scientific uncertainties (especially those associated with fracking), and of the different infrastructure implications. We maintain the position that no fracking should be allowed within the National Park or AONBs or other particularly sensitive sites. The Government’s 29 July statement that fracking will only be permitted in these areas “in exceptional circumstances” is no more than a rehash of existing policy and leaves unacceptable loopholes that planning inspectors have proved all too keen to exploit.
It is our view that the Councils’ background papers fail to address a number of key issues essential for the formulation of a sound hydrocarbons minerals policy. These are explained in detail in our response to WSCC.
For more information follow these links:
WSCC/SDNPA joint local minerals policy background papers:
CPRE Sussex consultation response [See below]
CPRE National Office policy guidance on shale gas:
http://www.cpre.org.uk/resources/energy-and-waste/shale-gas/item/3473-policy-guidance-note-shale-gas
CPRE Sussex policy on drilling for oil and gas in Sussex:
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