AMAZING NEWS FOR SUSSEX- Fernhurst application REJECTED!!

AMAZING NEWS FOR SUSSEX THIS MORNING!!!!! The application by Celtique Energy to drill at Fernhurst has been UNANIMOUSLY REFUSED by the South Downs National Park Planning Committee. Campaigners wept tears of relief and joy at this mornings decision. A Massive THANK YOU to everyone who objected to the application! MORE NEWS SOON!!!

Refusal on grounds of, in summary :

1-landscape qualities ....the light at night and general appearance of the national park.

2-tranquillity issues....noise

3-the trucks. Insufficient information to demonstrate that noise will not affect residents and that it will not affect ancient monument Fernhurst Furnace

4- the applicant failed demonstrate that national need for oil and gas could not be met by locating elsewhere.

5- the very strong weight of local concern 5517 objections vs. 11 in support

FRACK FREE FERNHURST SAY:

‘FFF is delighted that the SDNPA planning committee have turned down Celtique Energie's application for exploratory drilling at Nine Acre Copse. In rejecting this application they have not only taken the advice of their own planning officer and accepted the government's own confirmation that such development should only take place in a national park in exceptional circumstances but also listened to the over five and a half thousand people who have objected to this proposal (as opposed to the eleven who have expressed support of it). Clearly a national park is not the right place for a large-scale “industrial experiment” (Andrew Tyrie MP), and we are relieved to see that the SDNPA have upheld their objectives to protect the national park and the community within it.

Right up until the last minute Celtique demonstrated their lack of respect for our community with their continued attempts to mislead both the public and the planning authorities with disingenuous and incorrect statements and material.

We would like to thank all the organisations and individuals who have tirelessly campaigned for and contributed to our campaign – from Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the National Trust, the Woodland Trust, RSPB, CPRE, the South Downs Society to those who visit and love the national park and of course the residents of Fernhurst, Lynchmere and the surrounding area.

One thing that the last 16 months have shown is that we live in a community which is willing to work together and support each other when faced with a crisis. We hope that our village can now return to being the peaceful and happy place that it was before we faced this unwelcome and inappropriate threat.'