Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext: 6728 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 An application has been submitted for the determination of conditions under the Environment Act 1995 for the Stockbridge Oilfield, which now comprises the well sites at Larkwhistle Farm (the main site), Hill Farm and Folly Farm. The Chilbolton Down site is now a green waste composting facility, Wallers Ash site has been restored to agriculture and Pentex Oil do not use the Micheldever rail terminal. The recommendation is to approve the revised conditions.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The Stockbridge Oilfield, as shown on the attached plan, originally comprised the well sites at Larkwhistle Farm, Hill Farm, Folly Farm, Chilbolton Down, and Wallers Ash together with the rail terminal at Micheldever.

2.2 Under the Environment Act 1995 the County Council has a responsibility for the periodic review of mineral planning permissions. The purpose of the review is to provide the opportunity to update conditions on the planning permission. Pentex Oil and Gas Limited were notified that the Stockbridge Oilfield permissions were subject to review and a schedule of proposed conditions submitted.

2.3 Following exploration and appraisal planning permission was granted for the Stockbridge Oilfield in 1988. The planning permission included the sites at Larkwhistle Farm, Hill Farm, Chilbolton Down, Folly Farm, Wallers Ash and Micheldever Oil Terminal. Subsequently planning permission was granted for an additional well site at Goodworth Clatford. As this is a more recent consent it is not currently subject to review.

2.4 The site at Wallers Ash has been reinstated to agriculture and therefore no longer forms part of the Stockbridge Oilfield facilities. Similarly the site at Chilbolton Down has been granted planning permission and redeveloped as a site for green waste composting. In addition the oil company do not currently use the Micheldever Oil Terminal, the oil is being taken to Hamble by road tanker. Therefore the oil terminal at Micheldever is also no longer part of the oilfield facilities.

4. Development Plan

4.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted December 1998) Policy 10 states that conditions will be imposed to minimise any adverse environmental, traffic, or other impact resulting from the development and to ensure appropriate restoration and after-care of the site.

5. Consultations

5.1 Winchester City Council raises no objection to the proposed conditions.

5.2 Test Valley Borough Council raises no objection to proposed conditions.

5.3 Barton Stacey Parish Council - no comments have been received.

5.4 Crawley Parish Council - no comments have been received.

5.5 Micheldever Parish Council -no comments have been received.

5.6 South Wonston Parish Council - no comments have been received.

5.7 The Environmental Health Officer (Test Valley Borough Council) was not aware of any environmental health related issues or concerns with the sites in Test Valley.

5.8 The Environmental Health Officer (Winchester City Council) - no comments have been received.

5.9 The Highways Adviser comments that there have been no accidents involving HGVs at the sites and the routes used by the oil tankers since operations commenced.

5.10 The Environment Agency confirms that there were no conditions that it would wish to see added to the permission beyond those already applied. No objection, on the basis of adherence to all previous conditions.

5.11 Rights of Way Manager raises no objection.

6. Representations

6.1 Councillors Pierce , Mrs Bailey and Mrs Glasspool have been informed of the proposal.

6.2 Three letters of objection have been received from residents of New Road, Micheldever Station on the grounds of disturbance from proposed use by oil tankers using the oil terminal. Access to the terminal is via New Road.

7. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

7.1 Although there were concerns about the environmental impact of the Stockbridge Oilfield when it was originally granted planning permission in 1988, its operation has not given rise to the realisation of these concerns. The development is inconspicuous and the landscaping has matured to ensure that it is not visually intrusive.

7.2 The letters of objection from residents of New Road have been noted. However the oil terminal is not used by Pentex Oil and there is no current intention to use this facility.

7.3 It is considered that the conditions originally imposed have been effective in ensuring that the oil field has operated in an environmentally acceptable manner. The scheme of conditions proposed update the existing conditions and would ensure the continued operation of the oilfield in an acceptable manner.

Recommendation

That the following scheme of conditions proposed under the Environment Act 1995: First Periodic Review Stockbridge Oil Field (Larkwhistle Farm, Hill Farm, Folly Farm, Chilbolton Down, Wallers Ash and Micheldever Rail Terminal) (03/02825/HCM) be approved subject to the following conditions.

Conditions

Time Limits

(1) All plant, buildings, structures, hard standings and haul roads hereby approved (excluding pipelines) shall be removed and the sites restored in accordance with Condition (19) by
31 December 2016 or at the end of the life of the oilfield (as determined by the Mineral Planning Authority) whichever is the sooner.

Reason: To ensure restoration of the sites.

Working Programme

(2) Prior to the drilling of any new wells at sites included in the consent, details of the type and size of drilling rig to be used shall be submitted in writing to the Mineral Planning Authority for approval.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(3) The total number of new wells that may be drilled over the entire oilfield shall not exceed 48 and the maximum number of wells to be drilled at each well site, including those in existence, shall be 18 at Larkwhistle Farm, 20 at Hill Farm, and 10 at Folly Farm.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Restriction of Permitted Development Rights

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of Parts 19 and 21 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development ) Order 1995 (or any order amending, replacing or re-enacting that order), no fixed plant or machinery, buildings, structures or erection, or private ways shall be erected, extended installed or replaced at the oilfield complex without the prior written agreement of the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: To ensure the development is carried out in a satisfactory manner.

Hours of Working

(5) Construction work, pipeline laying and work-overs shall only take place between the hours of 0700 and 1800 Monday to Friday (except recognised public holidays) and between 0700 and 1300 hours on Saturday.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(6) No road tankers involved in the transportation of oil and/or water shall enter or leave the well sites included in this consent except during the hours of 0500 to 2200 Monday to Friday and 0500 to 1300 hours at weekends and public holidays.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Access

(7) All access roads, including visibility splays with the public highway, provided as part of this development shall be maintained throughout the life of the development to the satisfaction of the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(8) The number of road tanker movements between all the well sites included in this consent shall not exceed 42 per working day unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of amenity and highway safety.

(9) Any signs situated at points of access off public highways, where pipeline works and haul roads cross public rights of way, shall be maintained in order to alert riders, walkers and drivers.

Reason: In the interests of public safety.

Noise

(10) Noise levels arising from drilling and work-over operations at well sites included in this consent shall not exceed 55dB(A)L10 and 45dB(A)L90 between 0700 and 2200 hours and 40dB(A)L10 and 35dB(A) L90 between 2200 and 0700 hours when measured outside the nearest dwelling throughout the life of the development.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Drainage and Water Protection

(11) All outlets from the oil interceptors, to be installed as part of each sites drainage system, shall be fitted with shut-off valves capable of closing the site drainage system in the event of a major oil spillage.

Reason: To prevent pollution to the water environment.

(12) Any facilities for the storage of oils, fuels or chemicals shall be sited on impervious bases and surrounded by impervious bund walls. The volume of the bunded compound shall be at least equivalent to the capacity of the tank plus ten percent. All filling points, vents, gauges and sight glasses must be located within the bund. All filling points and tank overflow pipe outlets shall be detailed to discharge downwards into the bund.

Reason: To prevent pollution to the water environment.

(13) All oil interceptors shall be monitored and maintained to ensure that any contaminated water is retained on site for collection and removal by suction tanker.

Reason: To prevent pollution to the water environment.

Landscape and Visual Impact

(14) All existing or proposed plant, structures and buildings shall be maintained, clad and/or painted with Dark Green BS 14C39 to match existing plant, structures and buildings.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity.

(15) All pumping equipment (including beam pumps) shall not exceed four metres in height (the height of any beam pumps being that measured to the beam pivot) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity.

(16) All external lighting at well sites included in this consent shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the Mineral Planning Authority to minimise intrusion when viewed from public vantage points and nearby dwellings.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity and to prevent light pollution.

(17) Any temporary incineration of gas at the well sites included in this consent shall only take place using flare stacks designed and constructed in accordance with details to be agreed beforehand in writing by the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity.

(18) All landscaping, tree and shrub planting at each of the well sites included in this consent shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the Mineral Planning Authority until the termination of the development.

Reason : In the interests of visual amenity

Restoration, After-care and After-use

(19) Within 12 months of the removal of the plant, buildings, structures, hard standings and haul roads, as required by Condition (1), all sites and roads shall be restored in accordance with detailed schemes that have been submitted to the Mineral Planning Authority and agreed in writing. The schemes shall provide for the removal of all hardcore and concrete structures (including foundations) the replacement of topsoil and the preparation and draining (if required) of the reinstated land to a state suitable for agricultural use. The restoration scheme shall also include the submission of after-care details for the restored areas for a period of up to five years, following the completion of restoration.

Reason: To secure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

(20) On restoration of the oilfield under the terms of Condition (19) any oilfield pipelines shall be cut off below ground, purged and sealed and left in a safe condition in accordance with a scheme to be submitted to and agreed with the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: To secure satisfactory restoration of the site.

Advice Note

The conditions do vary from those submitted by the applicant, however the effect of the new conditions is not to impose a restriction on working rights.

8720/PC

APPENDIX

HAMPSHIRE, PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHAMPTON MINERALS AND WASTE LOCAL PLAN (ADOPTED 17 DECEMBER 1998)

Policy 10

The Mineral and Waste Planning Authorities will impose conditions on planning permissions for minerals and waste development to minimise any adverse environmental, traffic or other impact resulting from the development and to ensure appropriate restoration and after-care of the site. Where such impacts cannot adequately be controlled by conditions, the Mineral and Waste Planning Authorities will seek appropriate planning obligations and/or legal agreements in order to control operations and/or to secure the enhancement of the environment or benefit to the local community.