We are calling for a Judicial Review of  Lincolnshire County Council's decisions 14/5/2018  to allow two exploratory oil wells,  within and on the edge of The Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, at Biscathorpe and North Kelsey.

The Biscathorpe well site is in the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB and home to the River Bain, a system of protected chalkstreams - one of only 200 in the world.   The Operator has consent to discharge treated site fluid into this delicate protected chalkstream.

The North Kelsey well site is a quiet peaceful haven where you can listen to skylarks singing and spot barn owls, linnets, lapwings and many other birds who nest and roost in the surrounding farmland.  An otter has been recently spotted.

The two sites are connected by the Viking Way a popular long distance public foot path stretching across the country. The surrounding areas have delicate water systems, and there are many people and animals who rely directly on the aquifers. 

This area has naturally low water resources.  We cannot let invasive and dangerous drilling practices imperil our water resource!! 

The possibility of  irreversible damage to the aquifers is a threat to the surrounding ecosystem, agriculture and wildlife, the effects downstream pose similar concerns. Lincolnshire has a long history of oil wells, but those used traditional 'nodding donkeys' that were far less harmful and invasive than the  new generation of onshore oil and gas extraction methods.  

These  methods involve deep drilling (approximately 2 km deep in our case), and possibly directional and deviated drilling. Production stage can involve well stimulation methods to extract oil and gas where the reserves are difficult to access and oil does not naturally flow to the surface. Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) and Acidisation are examples of these well stimulation methods. Oil in sandstone formations can be targeted this way.

Onshore oil and gas operations are dangerous and polluting at every stage including the exploratory drilling phase.   Not least is the flaring of waste gas containing multiple toxins and carcinogens.  Production stage involves mechanical and chemical procedures which are hazardous and poorly regulated.  These pose threats to human health and wildlife habitats, bringing negative impacts to the environment locally and globally.  

Allowing this kind of industry into our precious rural spaces was given inadequate consideration. We know it is time to bring all fossil fuel activity to a stop!  Please we ask for your help in this urgent appeal. If we raise £15,000 by the end of the month we can submit our case -  already prepared - that exploration for oil, with potentially invasive production methods ahead, SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED HERE.