Approval recommended for extension of oil and gas drilling site

Plans to extend an oil and gas drilling site in East Yorkshire are recommended for approval next week despite more than 1,000 objections.Rathlin Energy (UK) submitted an application to East Riding of Yorkshire Council earlier this year for the construction of an extension to the existing West Newton A (WNA) wellsite.Planning permission is sought for a temporary 25-year period to construct an extension to the existing WNA wellsite; to test, appraise and produce from the two existing wells; and drill, test, appraise and produce from up to six new wells.The plans also decommissioning and wellsite restoration following the end of the 25-year period.The proposal covers conventional methods of extraction and not fracking.It has been estimated that the site has 283 million barrels of extractable oil and 265.9 billion cubic feet of extractable gas.The applicant has offered a community fund comprising a £20,000 lump sum on commencement of development, a further £20,000 on commencement of drilling an additional well, and a subsequent annual financial contribution once the well site is operational.The application will be considered by the Planning Committee following a strong objection and referral from Aldbrough Parish Council. Objections have also been received from Ellerby, Burton Constable and Withernwick, Bilton and Skidby Parish Councils.The council has also received about 1,000 objections from members of the public to the plans.A number of the objections have noted that East Riding of Yorkshire Council has declared a Climate Change emergency.The council’s Planning Committee will vote on the application on 30 September, with a recommendation for approval, subject to conditions, in an officer’s report prepared for the meeting.Planning permission was granted in 2013 for mineral exploration.It was announced in August 2019 that a significant oil deposit had been discovered at the West Newton A-2 appraisal well.