RE: Balcombe Parish Council Consultation responce11 Feb 2020 07:53
“Two applications in one”
The Angus Energy application proposes two separate operations.
The first stage, lasting seven days, seeks to remove water from the well and establish whether oil is present. Stage 2 is to flow the well for three years.
The company has proposed to remove all equipment between the two stages and install safety and environmental protection measures before stage 2 begins. These include a flare to burn off waste gases, a perimeter containment bund, impermeable membrane and emergency shut down system.
Balcombe Parish Council said the two stages should be treated as separate planning applications.
It said the risks in stage 1 had been underestimated. It called for the membrane and bund proposed for stage 2 to be provided in stage 1.
It also criticised the lack of detailed plans for the containment system and bunded area in stage 2.
FFBRA suggested, in its objection, that the application had been shaped by the deal to transfer operatorship from Cuadrilla to Angus Energy.
Under the agreement, FFBRA said Angus must pay 100% of the costs until oil is produced (stage 1), while Cuadrilla would pay 75% of the costs in stage 2. The association said:
“This means Angus is incentivised to push as much of the cost as possible into Stage 2.”
It said Angus had provided only a “design philosophy” for stage 2, rather than engineering details and calculations.
“Angus are asking the council to grant permission on the basis of a general wish list and conceptual ideals rather than concrete design plans. A bit like architectural pencil illustrations rather than the engineering designs.”
Sign In
Follow the stocks
