Campaigners said the decision “ridicules” ministers’ claims that they are taking the climate crisis seriously and warned that it would cause irreparable damage to the region. Mr Hunt, backed by some as a potential future Tory leader, dismissed the decision, saying it would cause “enormous disruption and environmental damage for little or no economic benefit”. Housing Secretary Stewart Andrew rejected local councils to give the green light to drilling at Loxley Well near Dunsfold, a 13th-century village in Weald with historic buildings. The site is located in the South West Surrey constituency of former Health Minister Jeremy Hunt, who described the decision as “bitterly disappointing and wrong both economically and environmentally”. UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) had filed a lawsuit against Surrey County Council for refusing its plans, but a design investigation last year led an inspector to conclude that drilling should be allowed. Mr Andrew agreed with the inspector that “there was no evidence that there would be harmful emissions from the well either before or during the work,” the Department for Lands, Housing and Communities said. He also said that government policy supports the use of mineral resources within acceptable environmental constraints, according to a statement from the department describing the decision. Mr Hunt wrote to Deputy Secretary-General Michael Gove, accusing the ministry of “ignoring the power of local opinion”, which runs counter to the government’s commitment to transfer power. He said the decision had caused “enormous anger and frustration among all political parties”, while also undermining the government’s own commitment to achieving clean zero carbon emissions. Until anything is exported, the UK would be well on its way to reducing fossil fuel use, he said. Calling for a review, he wrote: “In short, it will create huge upheaval and environmental damage for little or no economic benefit.” Mr Andrew said he made the decision on behalf of the Secretary of State because of Gove’s Surrey Heath’s proximity to the region. Tom Fyans, head of campaigns and policy at CPRE, a rural charity, said: “Approving the drilling of a gas well in the Surrey countryside is an absurd decision that will surely provoke anger and despair. “It is unusual, given the urgency to get rid of fossil fuels, that the government deems it appropriate to light up a gas field and damage the environment of an area of outstanding natural beauty. “Given the scale of the opposition to this plan – with the local council, the local MP and the locals all united in their anger – it is difficult to see how the project can proceed without mass protests.” Mr Fyans said it was “completely strange” that the government approved drilling the same day it rejected work permits at two fracking sites on the grounds that shale gas drilling was incompatible with pure zero targets and concerns. for public health. Such a contradictory approach to the climate crisis suggests the government was not serious, he added. Councilor Steve Williams, of the Waverley Borough council, said the decision was the “worst possible outcome” and “will lead to irreversible damage to our environment and to the locals”. James Knapp, of the Weald Action Group, which had protested the drilling, said its members were deeply disappointed with the “incredible” decision. “Even if the site proves to be commercially viable, it will take years for new gas production to begin, so nothing will help alleviate the current energy price crisis,” he said. “With the commitments made on tackling climate change in Cop26 still ringing in their ears, it is unbelievable that the government has allowed this call.” UKOG CEO Steve Sanderson said: “We welcome this decision and its support for Loxley Gas as a safe, sustainable energy source with a much lower carbon footprint before being burned by imports.” Although the green light is for exploration work, the gas extraction license, known as fracking, has not yet been granted, the government says. The ban on fracking is still in force.
