PRESS RELEASE: Last chance to stop new “disgraceful” anti-environment drilling in Surrey Hills

The public consultation on new drilling in Albury will close today and is seen as the last chance to stop Surrey Hills from being used as a source for polluting gases.

Conservative-run Surrey County Council plans to allow companies to drill for greenhouse gases in Albury, just a short distance from Guildford town centre. The drilling would be used for grey hydrogen, which uses harmful greenhouse gases to create hydrogen.

The drilling proposed for the site is one of the most polluting methods for creating energy.

Local campaigner and Liberal Democrat candidate for Guildford, Zöe Franklin, has urged the community to voice their opposition to the plans on this public consultation. The local environmental group, Zero Carbon Guildford, has also opposed the new drilling.

Zöe Franklin, Liberal Democrat candidate for Guildford, said:

"This new drilling is disgraceful and a stain on Britain's environmental record in the same year we host COP26.

"It is outrageous that Surrey County Council think it is appropriate to drill for harmful gases just a stone's throw from Guildford town centre and right in the middle of our precious green spaces in the Surrey Hills.

"The number of drilling sites in Surrey is getting out of hand. Michael Gove, as a Surrey MP and Cabinet Minister, should know better than to support these deeply damaging plans. As part of his new cabinet position, Michael Gove is bringing environmental groups to court to push ahead with other drilling sites in Surrey. It is clear the government is ignoring the concerns of local people in Surrey and taking them for granted. Once again the Conservatives are showing us all they simply do not care about local issues"

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, is also attempting to expand oil drilling in Horse Hill, Surrey:

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/surrey-horse-hill-oil-drilling-b1838901.html