Biscathorpe: Oil drilling decision in AONB 'beggars belief'

Environmental campaigners have criticised a decision to allow drilling for oil in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Egdon Resources had appealed against a decision by Lincolnshire County Council to refuse permission for the site near the village of Biscathorpe.

A planning inspector upheld the appeal, despite finding the development would harm the landscape and produce only small quantities of oil.

Opponents said it would damage an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

A hearing by the Planning Inspectorate was held in October 2022 after the original plans were turned down, with the council citing concerns over the impact on the landscape.

In a ruling published on Friday, planning inspector Paul Thompson said the "national need" for oil production meant the proposed development was in "the public interest", despite it having "an adverse impact on the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB".

Mr Thompson also imposed a number of conditions, including that drilling should stop before the end of November 2039, and the site be returned to its previous use as agricultural land or wildlife habitat.

He acknowledged the oil produced at the site would only meet several days of UK demand over the entire production period, but said "the proposal could make a small, but important, contribution... and reduce reliance and competition for oil imports".

Amanda Suddaby, from campaign group SOS Biscathorpe, said the decision "beggars belief".

"It defies all sorts of logic given the climate and ecological crisis that we are clearly facing," she said.

"[The planning inspector] acknowledges in his report that it will harm the AONB and that it's a very small amount of oil, and that could be exported," she said.

"People genuinely thought it wouldn't be allowed to happen.

She said the group was currently considering its options, adding: "It's a fight we can't afford to lose."

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