Category: Waverley Borough Council

UKOG dump drilling scheme in Dunsfold

A few weeks ago, the Waverley Web asked? Will fossil fuel exploration ever happen in Dunsfold?

Now, UK Oil & Gas has decided to surrender its exploration rights on the Loxley Fields near Pratts Corner.

Campaigners DrillOrDrop have revealed that the exploration licence covering the controversial gas site at Loxley, Dunsfold, had been relinquished. Bringing to a close the long fight by Waverley Borough Council and campaigners to stop exploration.

By relinquishing the licence, UKOG (234) Ltd has lost the right to explore or produce hydrocarbons in the area.

The licence, called PEDL234, included another exploration site at Broadford Bridge, near Billingshurst, in West Sussex, also the subject of fierce local opposition.

Waverley Council and the campaign organisations, Protect Dunsfold and the Weald Action Group, have welcomed the news.

“Delighted but vigilant” – Dunsfold reaction

View of the proposed gas site near Dunsfold. 

Protect Dunsfold Ltd said it was delighted that the licence had been relinquished, but said it remained vigilant.

In a statement, it said:

“PD [Protect Dunsfold] and fellow campaigners have been working ceaselessly since 2019 to protect the local environment and community assets from UKOG’s totally inappropriate and unsuitable proposal.  

“Dunsfold is currently expecting inclusion into the enlarged Surrey Hills National Landscape (formerly known as an AONB). Such exploratory drilling would have irreparably damaged both the natural environment and neighbouring local businesses, as well as causing significant stress to local roads, with heavy vehicles navigating an incredibly narrow access lane on a blind bend.

“While we always felt that the potential at this site was overestimated by UKOG, and therefore likely to founder, we simply could not take that risk and so a huge amount of effort has been devoted to campaigning against this project.

“We are very grateful to everybody who has supported us; whilst undoubtedly there are other factors at play, this is a victory for common sense and stands as a testament to community cooperation and resilience.

“Hopefully the relinquishment of this drilling licence effectively marks the end of a long running saga, but as the planning consent for this site does not expire until June 2026 we remain vigilant and will persist in protecting the local environment should the need arise again.”

Surrey County Council confirmed that the Loxley/Dunsfold planning permission remains valid, regardless of whether a PEDL licence is in place.

Planning permission for the Dunsfold scheme was initially rejected twice by Surrey County Council, in June and November 2020. But the refusal was overturned on appeal by the then local government minister, Stuart Andrew. In 2023, Protect Dunsfold and Waverley Borough Council failed in their legal challenge at the High Court.

Cllr Steve Williams, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability for Waverley Borough Council, was part of the challenge. He said today:

“For years, Waverley Borough Council has stood alongside local campaigners and environmental pressure groups against proposals by UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) to devastate the rural heart of our borough by drilling for fossil fuels.

“As Waverley’s portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability I have worked alongside community groups and supported the council’s legal case against the drilling, alongside Paul Follows, our council leader.

“Throughout the years of campaigning against drilling for fossil fuels in Dunsfold, I have consistently spoken out against UKOG’s outrageous proposals, despite facing the personal threat of legal action from UKOG itself at one stage.

“This campaign has been long, difficult, and sometimes intimidating — but justice and common sense have at last prevailed. We must all continue to press the message that if we are ever to stand any chance of stopping the worst of our impending climate crisis, all new deposits of fossil fuels must stay in the ground.”

Kirsty Clough, of the Weald Action Group, said:

“We were heartened to hear that UKOG has finally thrown in the towel and given up its licence to carry out fossil fuel drilling near the village of Dunsfold. We are proud to have stood alongside local campaign group Protect Dunsfold who have worked tirelessly for over 5 years to stop this development. From the start it was clear that the scheme would have been bad news for the local wildlife and for the climate, and bad news for local businesses”

Uncovering the lost licence

DrillOrDrop uncovered the relinquished licence when we followed up on a missed deadline on work in PEDL234.

The industry regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), had given UKOG until June 30, 2025, to start drilling a well at the Loxley/Dunsfold site. This was the third time the NSTA had extended the deadline.

Drilling the well had been a condition. PEDL234 was operated by UKOG (234) Ltd, a subsidiary of UK Oil & Gas plc.

The company has carried out no construction or drilling work at the Loxley/Dunsfold site. A well was drilled at Broadford Bridge, but the site has been mothballed for seven years.

DrillOrDrop asked the parent company about the relinquishment, but has received no response.

The licence loss has been among a series of recent setbacks for the UKOG group. Others include:

  • In June 2024, the flagship oil production site at Horse Hill lost its planning permission following a landmark climate ruling at the Supreme Court
  • In March 2025, UKOG suspended share trading when its annual accounts were not published on time
  • In April 2025, we reported council action over restoration delays at Broadford Bridge
  • UKOG’s interim accounts were delayed this week
  • Today, UKOG announced that it was selling a subsidiary, UKOG GB Ltd, for £400,000

Silver Medal for Surrey County Council

 

The county council and its volunteers snapped up a Silver medal at the world-famous RHS Hampton Court Flower Show.

The medal was awarded for showing alternative green uses for parking spaces, including those in Waverley. It has revealed how parking spaces can be converted into green spaces. Judges described the exhibits as:

“astonishingly clever.”

The honour was presented to the garden, which showcased three parking space-sized areas that will all be relocated to Surrey’s streets, including Cranleigh, after the festival. They are: 

 

  • The Cranleigh rain garden demonstrates sustainable drainage, utilising climate-resilient plants to manage stormwater and reduce flooding risks.  
  • The Guildford Parklet celebrates biodiversity. It’s crafted from reclaimed materials and features pollinator-friendly plants, bird baths, and play elements to bring people and wildlife together.  

In comparison to the three gardens, a fourth zone features an electric car, demonstrating to visitors just how much can be achieved in the same amount of space. Electric vehicles do not produce the exhaust pipe emissions that contribute to climate change and poor air quality, so are a better way to travel when you need to use a car.  

Judges said it was ‘astonishingly clever’ to create a garden in such small public spaces. They said when you sit in the garden you feel cocooned in the street, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. 

The garden was also highly commended with an RHS Environmental Innovation award for its commitment to sustainable garden design. 

The parklets and rain gardens were funded through existing placemaking schemes in the three communities where the gardens will be relocated after the festival. Additional support for creating the garden came from volunteers, including local young people and community groups, as well as private sponsors.  

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Receiving the silver medal at one of the country’s best-known garden festivals is a real honour. It reflects the ambition for our towns and villages that Surrey County Council is showcasing this week. 

“The show garden demonstrates how we can provide a better balance between roads and pedestrians in our town centres and provide attractive and functional areas which will encourage people to visit, stay longer and support our vital local economies. 

“But they also show how local government, volunteers and the private sector can work together to design and create community spaces, offering vital training to our young people along the way. I would like to thank every person and organisation which has helped create these gardens which will be on the streets of Surrey in the coming weeks for everyone to enjoy.” 

The sponsors and volunteers who have contributed time, materials and expertise to bring the vision to life are: Guildford County School, Surrey Hills, AtkinsRealis, Meristem Design, Ringway, Surrey Youth Offer Service, Littlethorpe, Kathy Plank from Cranleigh, Milsetone, Surrey Hills National Landscape, Working in Charge, Youth Offer Development, Ash Youth Centre. 

Zoe Metcalfe, Client Director, Local and Central Government at AtkinsRéalis, said: “The opportunity to co-design this exhibit with Surrey County Council provides a real opportunity to demonstrate the importance of integrating green spaces in our streets and neighbourhoods. 

 

Cranleigh rain garden 

The Cranleigh rain garden turns a parking space into a sustainable green area that helps manage rainwater and reduce flooding. In urban areas, rainwater often has nowhere to go due to the extensive use of concrete and tarmac, which can lead to flooding and pollution. Rain gardens mimic natural drainage by soaking up rainwater, filtering out pollutants, and helping it slowly return to the ground. 

The garden features moisture-loving plants, such as sage and masterwort. Other plants, such as willow-leaved loosestrife and knotweed, can handle drier conditions once established. There’s also a birch tree that thrives in wet soil but can also cope with dry spells, adding height and shade to the garden. 

AtkinsRealis designed this garden and its planting selection in collaboration with Surrey County Council. Ringway and students from NESCOT helped build and will later take down the garden. 

The plants will be moved to rain gardens being built in Fountain Square, Cranleigh. The wooden stepping stones will go back to the council to be used in ‘play on the way’ schemes. The wooden log seating will be recycled, and the kerbs will be returned to Ringway for use in other schemes. 

Guildford Parklet 

The Guildford parklet uses reclaimed materials to transform a parking space into a vibrant area for birds, wildlife and people. There are planters with built-in seating providing a space for people to rest, socialise and interact with nature. A bird bath, made from an old highway sign, collects rainwater through bamboo tubes that also water the plants.  

A canopy has been created from a repurposed parachute to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.  A second canopy has been created by jasmine growing around a timber structure, creating resting spots for birds and wildlife.  

Deep red masterwort, sweet-smelling star jasmine, and sky-blue blooms from geraniums bring variety and vibrancy. Coral bells add warm tones with hot pink undersides, while Siberian bugloss (Jack Frost) shows off silver leaves with green veins. These are low-maintenance, help cover the ground, and attract bees and other pollinators. 

The initial design of this garden was created by volunteers from the Rosamund Community Garden, which was developed in collaboration with designers from Atkins Realis and Surrey County Council. Molly Klemova-White, alongside colleagues from Surrey County Council’s Youth Offer Team, helped to grow and advise on the planting. 

The Youth Offer Team guided young people in building benches, planters, and bird baths, providing them with hands-on experience. 

The garden will be relocated to Phoenix Court in Guildford, allowing visitors to enjoy tranquillity amidst the bustling town centre. Experience Guildford will help to organise the maintenance of the plants.

Could Waverley’s CIL Debacle be over? Bar the shouting?

Barrister KC Simon Bird has spoken on the vexed question of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

The link below is to Legal Advice, which some councillors believe should have been sought earlier.

One councillor, Jerry Hyman from Farnham, believes the legal advice should be challenged. 

Appendix 1 – Waverley CIL Advice

Can ‘Your Waverley’ ignore it and reimburse complainants, some of whom may lose their homes? The answer is yes, if the council made a mistake. However, if homeowners or their agents made mistakes, their cases will be assessed by someone completely Independent of the council in a Discretionary  Case Review. The review will now include “self-build” homeowners.

Last night, the temperature at Waverley Towers hit boiling point when  Planning Portfolio Holder Cllr Liz Townsend called for residents who believed they were affected to come forward and have their cases examined.

There have been some absolutely shocking accusations made by the opposition and others accusing us of entrapment and coersion and some rash comments made her tonight questioning the independence of an adjudicator.

We will deal with his promptly, responsibly and transparently and obey the law.

For three hours in stifling temperatures, members of Waverley’s Executive, together with the chief planning officer and council lawyers, advised members on matters of law. Leader Paul Follows, then a new councillor, was a lone voice in 2018 when he opposed some of the CIL legislation when it was introduced. He stressed the council needed to act lawfully to prevent a `Judicial Review.

When Cllr Carole Cochburn called for action on behalf of the Tory Group, Cllr Follows told her. “You voted for it in 2018 – I didn’t.” 

The council has issued a call for the Government to reform the Community Infrastructure Levy system urgently.

Cllr Paul Follows

In a letter, Cllr Paul Follows, leader of Waverley Borough Council, raised serious concerns over what he described as inflexible, complex, and unfair regulations affecting homeowners. He said the levy was meant to be a simpler, faster and more transparent way to fund local infrastructure, but had become a confusing and unforgiving process where small, honest mistakes can leave residents facing life-changing financial penalties.

The Tories, including Jeremy Hunt’s bag carrier Cllr Jane Austen, have  made a drama out of a crisis and have been waxing lyrical for months about the infrastructure levy, which has left some borough residents “impoverished.” 

Either personally or through an agent, some individuals incorrectly completed planning application paperwork, while others started work and sought permission retrospectively. It is believed that 20 homeowners could be affected.

The levy, which provides funding for roads, schools, recreation, and medical facilities ( infrastructure), is imposed on homeowners who extend their properties by 100 square metres. Or more.

Under current rules, large home extensions can incur significant charges if homeowners unintentionally fail to follow the strict application processes. This has hit some in Waverley hard.

It can be as simple as missing a single step in the application process, and the council says this leaves them with no legal discretion to intervene.

Not enforcing the levy is also not an option, as it is attached to the property rather than the individual, which would impact future sales.

Earlier this month, the Tories called for all residents “stung~” by the levy to be reimbursed following a similar issue in West Berkshire, regardless of who made errors in “complicated paperwork.” Now they want all residents to receive ex gratia payments from the council’s coffers. Some councillors believed that planning officers should have helped householders with complicated paperwork. All at a time when planning officers, countrywide, are thin on the ground!

 Cllr Carole Cockburn said recently: “We are supposed to be the experts in this.

“If we don’t help the amateurs to deal with this paperwork, to deal with these strict regulations which we know are difficult, then I think we are failing in our duty of care.

“You can’t expect amateurs just to absorb it overnight.”

CIL was introduced by the Tory government and implemented by Waverley’s previous Tory administration in 2018. Neither the officers nor the previous administration have queried its efficacy until recent issues came to light. 

Some Councillors have said that now Waverley has a golden opportunity to put this right. Failure to do so will cause significant damage to the reputation of this council in its final administration before it’s dissolved in a couple of years, making way for a unitary authority. It would be a tragedy for the council if CIL injustice to residents is what it’s remembered for.

Cllr Follows said: “If the council makes an error, we’ll do everything we can to put it right. But when a resident makes an honest mistake, our hands are tied. That’s why we need national reform. Councils must be given the flexibility to act with fairness and common sense.”

He added: “It’s hard to justify the same bureaucracy and penalties for someone simply trying to build a granny annexe or extra bedrooms.

“We’re asking the Government to act now on reforms promised more than a decade ago.”

The council will report on the progress of the case review in three months.

Waverley CIL protestors in April. 

Late last year, it emerged that residents had received hefty and unexpected planning fees, with some having to sell their homes to avoid serious court action. CIL levies, which were once imposed only on large-scale developers, are now being sought by cash-strapped councils across the nation.

The CILly Season began early this year at “Your Waverley.’

 

Calling all Waverley & Guildford Residents – To Have Your Say.

   A significant change is on the way for local government! 

And thanks to Surry County Council, the Silly Season has been chosen to consult residents when many are away on holiday, why not Christmas, we ask?

An Online Event may help residents have their say on local government reorganisation.

However, we at the Waverley Web believe that a vast number of residents will not have access to the necessary technology to participate. When will the “old-fashioned” public meetings be held?

At the Executive meeting this week, Leader Paul Follows announced there would be four local public meetings.

  • Haslemere on July 14 – Farnham on the 16th, Godalming on the 22nd, and Cranleigh on the 29th. Venues to be arranged.

Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils are inviting residents to join them for an “Online Engagement Session” on Thursday, July 3, to learn about the most significant change to Surrey Councils in over 50 years.

The government has launched a public consultation on proposals to replace current councils with up to three bigger councils in the county. At the online session, lead councillors and officers from Waverley and Guildford Councils will:

  • Explain what Local Government Reorganisation is
  • Outline the options being considered, and
  • Show residents how to get involved.

There will also be an opportunity for local people to ask questions about what the changes could mean for them, their family and our community.

Cllr Julia McShane

Cllr Julia McShane, Guildford’s Leader, said: “This consultation is the only opportunity local people will have to give their views to the government, and shape how future decisions are made, services delivered, and communities represented in Surrey.

“We want local people to have access to all the information they need to take part in this once-in-a-generation change, and give the Government an informed view. This online session is the first in a series of opportunities our community will have to engage with us, and I encourage everyone to get involved and have their say.”

The government is consulting on two proposals:

  • Surrey County Council leads the first and is for two unitary authorities – East and West Surrey

The two-unitary council solution proposed by the SCC

  • The second is for three unitary authorities – North, East and West Surrey – and is supported by nine of the county’s district and borough councils, including Waverley and Guildford.

A three-unitary authority solution is preferred by nine of the eleven borough and district councils in Surrey. 

Cllr Paul Follows

Cllr Paul Follows, Waverley’s Leader, said:

“We strongly believe a move to three unitary authorities is the right approach for our residents. This model would keep local government local. Decisions would be made by people who understand our area, and councils would be connected to their communities.

“A three-unitary approach would deliver the services our residents need, support our local business community and future growth, and make sure there is strong local leadership and accountability.”

Registering for the Online Engagement Session

The Online Engagement Session will be held on Thursday, July 3, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

You can register now for this event, which will be held on Microsoft Teams.

Residents can also participate in the Government consultation, which is open until Tuesday, August 5.

There’s a link to the Surrey LGR Hub, which outlines information on Local Government Reorganisation and the two proposals.