The Forestry Commission has notified Europa Oil & Gas that the Minister for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has decided to not renew the lease for the site and, as a consequence of this decision, Europa Oil and Gas have withdrawn their planning application to drill for oil at this site.

We are delighted and relieved with this decision and the consequent abandonment of the plans to drill for oil at Leith Hill. The proposal was never appropriate in an area of outstanding natural beauty, in an area where the water supplies could have been put at risk, and where it was impossible to develop a realistic traffic management plan for works vehicles to access the site.

It has been a ten year battle to convince those who make the decisions of this and the battle has finally been won. It has been a rollercoaster of a campaign with successes and setbacks along the way. This victory is thanks to the tenacity of the many hardworking and dedicated local residents and campaigners led by the Leith Hill Action Group who have devoted themselves to protecting Leith Hill from this inappropriate development.