In March 2009, the Leith Hill Action Group formed with one purpose: stop Europa Oil & Gas from drilling in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for what Europa themselves admitted was a 30% chance of finding oil that would meet 0.014% of UK energy demand over 25 years.
What followed was six years of relentless legal challenge:
In May 2011, after over 2,000 letters of objection, Surrey County Council refused Europa’s planning application. Europa appealed. The first Public Inquiry in July 2012 found against Europa. They challenged that decision in the High Court and won, quashing the Inspector’s ruling. LHAG took it to the Court of Appeal and lost.
A second Public Inquiry was held in April and May 2015. This time Europa won planning permission – but it came loaded with 23 conditions and a three-year deadline to start work or the permission would expire.
LHAG had raised £100,000 from donors, families, companies and Mole Valley District Council. They’d fought Europa through every legal avenue available. The formal battle had been lost, but the constraints they’d forced onto Europa’s permission created an opening for what came next.
Read more about the legal battle at the Leith Hill Action Group website
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