Title: Scheduled Public Investigation of Controversial Oil Drilling Proposals in Lincolnshire Wolds
The disputed oil drilling plans in the stunning Lincolnshire Wolds will be the subject of a public investigation in April 2026, marking the conclusion of a prolonged legal struggle initiated by regional activists. Permission for an oilfield at Biscathorpe was rescinded in the previous year by the Supreme Court following a plea from SOS Biscathorpe. An appeal from the project’s developer, Egdon Resources, resulted in the Planning Inspectorate scheduling an investigation to run from 14 to 21 April at the Kenwick Park Hotel in Louth.
Amanda Suddaby, a local campaigner, referred to the investigation as a progression from a public consultation held in 2022. The intended site, previously a sand quarry, is recognisably located in an Area of Exceptional Natural Majesty. Lincolnshire County Council initially dismissed the project proposal in 2021, propelling the case into a series of appeals before it was presented before the High Court.
In an important ruling captured in 2024, the Supreme Court stated that the impact of greenhouse gases from the consumption of fossil fuels must be integral to planning verdicts. In response to this ruling, Egdon Resources has provided an assessment of emissions, which is accessible for public viewing on the county council’s website.
Suddaby urged local citizens to consider the potential implications of climate change in their region, drawing attention to the vulnerabilities of Lincolnshire’s residential areas, agricultural lands, and natural habitats.
This information was adapted from the original research produced by www.bbc.com, reformatted for The Lincoln Post.
