Resident's bid for judicial review into Harthill drilling decision

Fracking firm Ineos won the right to build a 2,800-metre exploratory well on Common Road in the village at a public inquiry last month.

But Harthill resident Les Barlow has submitted documents to communities secretary James Brokenshire calling for the evidence to be heard again.

He said: “This judicial review will not come cheap. This is what it takes to challenge a big company the size of Ineos, with all its resources. 

“The people of Harthill have given generously towards the costs and I am very grateful because I have to do this alone.”

Fellow Harthill resident Chris Brookes added: “This would lead to a full hearing of all the evidence and could mean that the shale gas exploration would not go ahead. 

“It would be a real success if we could prevent Rotherham’s rural greenbelt being desecrated.”

Ineos’ original application was not judged by Rotherham’s planning board because Ineos appealed against non-determination — claiming the local authority was taking too long to decide.

The company was criticised at the inquiry for late submission of a revised travel plan adding more passing places on the rural route construction traffic would take to the drill site. 

The Government is consulting on plans to make exploratory drilling permitted development, meaning they would not need local approval anyway.

Deborah Gibson, of Harthill Against Fracking, said: “If this were passed in parliament, fracking developments would be treated in exactly the same way as erecting a garden shed and local people would have no say whatsoever.”

The campaign group is still crowd-funding to help with potential costs of Mr Barlow’s appeal effort. 

Visit www.gofundme.com/harthill-against-fracking-legal?member=333860.