Drilling to continue after Balcombe noise breach concerns

Energy firm Cuadrilla will continue drilling in Balcombe this afternoon (Monday September 9) after operations were called to a halt over the weekend because of fears it would breach a noise limit.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Sep 2013, 14:28 BST

The company has erected sound barriers at its site in London Road.

A spokesperson said Cuadrilla stopped operations on Saturday (September 7) after it was concerned it would exceed the 42 decibel limit which is put in place after 6.30pm.

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Balcombe resident Robert Greer said: “We’ve been complaining to the local authorities for weeks, while having to suffer this unbearable noise day and night.

“This is yet another instance of Cuadrilla not sticking to the terms of their permission. And it illustrates yet again how wrong it is to drill so close to a village.”

The No Fracking in Balcombe Society (NoFiBs) asks that the noise levels be monitored again as soon as drilling starts, and that the data be released immediately.

Friends of the Earth’s South East regional campaigner, Brenda Pollack, said: “With such intense national focus on Balcombe, it’s astonishing that action wasn’t taken sooner to stop Cuadrilla breaching noise limits.

“This latest incident will further undermine public confidence in the regulatory system and Government plans to develop the shale gas and oil industry in Britain.”

Related topics:London RoadGovernmentSouth EastBritain