Dorset Council will shortly be considering the permission necessary for a further oil well - which if approved could be producing for 25 years. Approval would seem to be at odds with their declaration of a climate emergency! The story is written up in the Dorset Echo here: https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18120267.dorset-oil-rig-work-25-years-approved/?ref=ebln
I haven't found any information about the application on the Dorset Council website. If anyone finds out more - please share information here. Meanwhile, for contact information for our local representatives refer to the Dorset Council website: https://moderngov.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1
Thanks to Beth Lewis and Richard Ecclestone for this link to the application on the Dorset Council website. You can comment online.
https://plan.dorsetcc.gov.uk/Planning/Display?applicationNumber=WD%2FD%2F19%2F002866
And you can see on the website that an objection has already been submitted by Cllr Jon Orrell (Green Party) representative for Melcombe Regis. In his objection he refers to the National Planning Policy Framework 2018. His objection has also been supported by Dorset Wildlife Trust. Jon Orrell says
" I wish to object to this proposal WD/D/19/002866
Dorset Council has declared a climate emergency. So permitting further extraction of fossil fuels is in direct contradiction to our stated policy.
Also the NPPF 2018 has the following mitigation stipulations that this application clearly breaches. Greenhouse gas emissions will be directly increased by exploring for oil with the obvious intention to extract, refine and burn it thus releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. So this application contravenes all the mitigation aims of the NPPF. "
He then quotes NPPF 8, NPPF 20 & NPPF 148 and the mitigation definition in NPPF page65.
I hope this might give some pointers for people wanting to submit objections.