The Jurassic Coast Word Heritage Status has been placed under threat by another company that wishes to drill for oil and gas by Durlston National Park in Swanage.
Last year, Infrastrata walked away from plans to drill having been met with fierce opposition from local people and campaigners that moved onto the proposed site owned by the Suttles family, next to Suttles’ California Quarry works. Earlier this year, a new company, Corallian, asked Dorset County Council to provide guidance on whether its oil and gas well plans would be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment – (detailed process to assess the potential harms to the environment and an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their views). Unfortunately, despite counter guidance by Natural England, The Jurassic Coast Team and Dorset AONB, Dorset County Council advised Corallian that no Environmental Impact Assessment was required. Many stakeholders were not included in the consultation including Swanage Town Council and the Durlston National Park which borders the planned site.
Since this time, a number of local residents have brought the matter to the attention of relevant groups and organisations. With their help and the backing of the WWF, they have sought to challenge the guidance issued by Dorset County Council and have appealed to the Secretary of State Sajid Javid to review and ensure that an environmental impact assessment is made compulsory.
This challenge is made more likely to receive support from the Secretary of State given that he previously rejected the Navitus Bay wind farm on the grounds of concern for potential threat to the UNESCO World Heritage Status. Whilst the wind farm had not attracted concern from UNESCO or the WWF, oil and gas exploration and extraction would be in direct contravention of UNESCO rules and the WWF has sent written to warnings Dorset County Council about risks to the prized World Heritage Status.
The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Status is estimated to bring about £111 million into the local economy each year.
The decision from the Secretary of State is due shortly and local MPs have all been contacted about the action so that they can also help defend the Jurassic Coast.
Encouragingly, Conservative held Swanage Town Council is in support and now too Conor Burns, standing to be re-elected as Bournemouth West MP, has indicated that he would defend against any threat to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site including those from Oil and Gas developments.
See link to video of Conor at recent parliamentary hustings at Bournemouth University. Notably Conor Burns was previously at the forefront of the anti Navitus Bay campaign. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw6fM9HNpOQ – Comment from 8 min 45 seconds in.
Stuart Lane
