Should the government grant new licenses for oil and gas drilling in the Weald Basin?

The Weald Basin, stretching across Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, sits atop significant oil reserves. Companies have sought permissions to drill new wells (such as at Loxley and Balcombe), arguing that domestically produced oil reduces reliance on imports and has a lower carbon footprint than shipping fuel from abroad. However, these projects face fierce opposition from local communities and environmental groups. Critics cite the risk of seismic activity (earthquakes), water pollution from acidisation techniques, and the incompatibility of new fossil fuel extraction with the UK's Net Zero targets. Proponents argue the UK will need oil for decades to come and should produce it locally. Opponents argue the South East's rural landscape should not be industrialised for short-term fossil fuel gains.