EXTINCTION Rebellion activists blocked the entrance to the UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) Horse Hill oil extraction site in Surrey today. 

Activists say that the firm has continued to pump oil from the site, despite being denied planning permission by the Supreme Court in June.

The nine protesters slammed Surrey County Council for failing to enforce the ruling and vowed to stop vehicles from entering the premises in protest.

The court case was brought by Extinction Rebellion climate activist Sarah Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group, and centred on the council’s decision to grant permission for UKOG to drill 3.3 million tonnes of crude oil.

Ms Finch argued that legal environmental impact assessments must take into account downstream emissions caused by burning extracted oil.

The landmark judgement confirmed that planners must consider the effects of burning fossil fuels before granting planning permission for its production.

Subsequently, planning applications were also quashed against  West Cumbria Mining’s fossil fuel development in Whitehaven and an oil terminal on the shores of Belfast Lough.

James Knapp, who took part in the demonstration, said: “Stephen Sanderson, CEO of failing oil company UKOG, is making Surrey County Council look weak and ineffectual in the face of blatantly unlawful oil extraction.

“The site has been plagued by incidents including a rig fire, local residents and grazing horses affected by noxious fumes, hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage from the earthquake swarm which coincided with oil workers returning to the site, and a fine from the Health and Safety Executive for irregularities which left the oil well vulnerable in blow out situations.”

Surrey County Council said the planning application is now to be re-determined in light of the Supreme Court ruling.

A spokesperson said: “The applicant has been asked to provide further information to demonstrate how downstream emissions have been included in the Environmental Statement and in re-determining the application the County Council will have to determine whether or not the downstream emissions are likely to have significant effects on the environment.

“Once further information is received from the applicant it will be subject to public consultation as part of the planning application process.”

UKOG was contacted for comment.