In just a few days, the deadline for UCOG (UK Oil & Gas) to drill for fossil fuels at the Loxley Well in Dunsfold expires.
The exploration company’s drilling licence, which has cost Surrey, Waverley Council, and protestors millions in past attempts to stop the oil giants’ bid to ‘drill, drill, drill’, runs out soon.
As the June 30, 2025, deadline approaches, it appears that UCOG suspended its shares in April due to a lack of audited accounts. However, it still maintains that its “Prized assets ” are the Loxley Well in Dunsfold and Horsehill, both located in Surrey.
So, where exactly does that leave Alfold farmer, Ashley Ward, in his Ewing-type bid to get rich quick on his farm? Not that he needed UCOG’s help – he duped Waverley planners into giving him planning consent for a cattle finishing unit on part of the farm. And, of course, a new farmhouse so he could watch over his enterprise. Have the cattle appeared yet? Locals have seen a few sheep grazing there.
Neither Waverley nor Surrey supported the UKOG planning application, which was subsequently approved on Appeal. Work at Lower Loxley has not started yet; it was contingent on a traffic management plan being submitted first. This was to overcome the dangers of traffic at a dangerous junction.
UKOG has suspended its shares since April due to a lack of Audited Accounts.
Their deadline to start work is June 30, 2025.
Background:
“Your Waverley’s fight with others to stop exploratory drilling on the Loxley Site in Dunsfold suffered a punishing setback when an appeal court judge refused permission to take the case further.
Lord Justice Stuart-Smith said an appeal had no prospect of success. The Court of Appeal’s decision was final and could not be reviewed or appealed. He said:
“ The planning permission will now remain in full force and effect for its full term”,
Pictured: MP Sir Jeremy Hunt who opposed drilling near his home in Hascombe and then went silent on the subject.
Following the decidion UKOG chief executive Stephen Sanderson was jubilant:
“We are pleased that Lord Justice Stuart-Smith has once again dismissed the legal challenge to our Loxley project and has confirmed that its planning consent is entirely lawful, as the Company and its counsel have maintained.
“We believe that a successful project will be beneficial to local and national level energy and economic interests and is fully in keeping with the government’s Hydrogen, Energy Security and Net Zero strategies.”
The make up photo of Jeremy Hunt and script are not worthy of a decent writing arachnid. You do say that he opposed the drilling but imply it was just because he lived near ( actually probably 2 miles away). There really is not much that can be said after the Appeal said the drilling could go ahead. Let’s keep quiet and hope that for a number of possible reasons, it will not happen
Actually, he opposed drilling and then voted the other way once he returned to a senior Government position.
There is no vote on an Appeal on the matter which is decided by a Judge.
Well let’s just hope that in 6 days the Application EXPIRES!!
Well sadly Denise it won’t because as I told Waverley Web yesterday when they put this up the PP was extended by 12 months by the Judicial Review so it doesn’t expire until next June.