West Sussex County Council are consulting on a minerals plan that will determine what planning decisions are made around oil and gas developments until 2033. Have your Say! Strength is in numbers - of responses. The deadline is Friday June 17th 5pm https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/7363/mlp_draft_reg18plan.pdf You can respond here in an online form: https://haveyoursay.westsussex.gov.uk/strategic-planning-and-place/draft-west-sussex-jmlp-reg18/consultation/intro/view https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/7361/pdf_form.pdf If you don't have time to read the plan in detail and make an individual response (by far the most effective way) we have some ideas to help you. You could simply say what you think the measures should be for permitting hydrocarbon extraction (if at all) and put them into the last section on the response form B4, where you can outline any comments you have on what the plan should contain. Here are 5 things you could talk about (or copy and paste this): 1)The vision should take into account the UK's obligations to meet the Paris climate change agreements. Therefore, as a county we should be looking to cut emissions of gases that contribute to climate change. This document only mentions that mineral production should contribute to a low carbon economy and look to minimise carbon emissions. It should also cover the need to minimise emissions of methane as methane is known to be a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. With climate change in mind no fossil fuel developments should be taking place as fossil fuels need to remain unburnt. Equally, unconventional oil and gas extraction is particularly worrying because of the high levels of methane emissions associated with the process. 2) Point 4 of the vision states that we should be 'aspiring to source more and more minerals from alternatives to extraction of indigenous resources'. In the case of hydrocarbons we can easily source energy from alternatives to fossil fuels. This document should signpost where provisions are set out for how West Sussex can encourage and develop planning applications for renewable energy production by using our natural resources (in a less destructive way than oil and gas). Solar and wind are obvious opportunities for West Sussex and should be prioritised over fossil fuels. 3)The document frequently refers to the need for energy security and implies that oil and gas extraction is therefore necessary. I challenge this assumption. We can get security equally from consistent investment in renewables, as other countries have shown. What is the problem with buying oil and gas from countries with which we have a stable relationship, as we do, while we develop our own renewables infrastructure? Food security should also be considered and whether minerals development may contaminate the land needed to produce food. 4)The document often uses the phrase, 'in the public interest'. In all respects WSCC should of course consider the public interest. This means taking into account our environment, our health and well being, and the developing risk of climate change. It should consider pollution risks to air and water and how this can effect the health of humans and animals in the locality by looking to independent scientific study and taking independent scientific advice. All emissions created should be considered in comparison with National Air Quality Objectives and operations should not be allowed if they are likely to exceed them. It should also acknowledge the need to take into account public opinion in terms of consultation responses, petitions, letters and other representations. WSCC should then function as part of a democracy by listening to and acting on the opinions of the public in whose interest they claim to act. 5)Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, South Downs National Park, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Water Source Protection Areas should be afforded the same degree of protection from oil and gas developments of any kind including 'hydrofluoric/hydrochloric mixture acidisation, as well as fracking. Protected areas should be protected from developments directly adjacent to, or under them at any depth. They should also be protected from exploration activities of any kind. Robust, continuous independent monitoring of air and water for a wide range of pollutants must take place before, during and after activities. Work must be immediately suspended where any contamination to water is found or if air emissions exceed National Air Quality Objectives. ***** Thank you for taking the time to act and let our County Council know your feelings on fracking and hydrocarbon extraction in the Weald. Please also tell your local Parish and District Councillors, your County Councillors and your MP. Only by sending our message out, to as many as we can, will we be heard. "We are all musicians in a great human orchestra, and it is now time to play the Save the World Symphony. You are not required to play a solo, but you are required to know what instrument you hold and play it as well as you can. You are required to find your place in the score. What we love we must protect. That’s what love means. From the right to know and the duty to inquire flows the obligation to act." Sandra Steingraber, Scientist, Writer, Activist b.1959