Beauty and the beast
We live in a beautiful country. So why do our government seem so intent on despoiling it? We’re faced with a need to break our reliance on carbon and fossil fuels. So why have successive governments been more enthusiastic about supporting drilling for yet more oil than in supporting next generation replacements? These thoughts have been in my mind over the last few days as I contemplate the desecration proposed at Leith Hill where the wealth, power and connections of the oil industry appear to hold more sway than the views of the locals, the scientific establishment or even common sense. In this scenario, the beast is the oil industry which is unlikely to turn into the handsome prince of the fairy tale but the scheme has some determined opposition.
Leith Hill action
A determined and well organised group of local residents formed the Leith Hill Action Group and challenged the proposals in a series of planning and court hearings. Support was forthcoming from a wide body of opinion, evidence was presented concerning the special environment, the impact on the local water supply, the threat to historic sunken lanes, the fact that the area is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (itself supposedly providing some protection) but, it seems, to no avail.
We now have a protest camp on Leith Hill, an inevitable next step. The campers are not, or not mainly, locals but people with a burning desire to resist these assaults on our well being wherever they are proposed. This is not to suggest that the locals have lost interest. Far from it. Moral and practical support is being provided to the camp by local residents and local politicians are taking an interest. There’s a facebook page(Leith Bill Protection Camp) and a twitter feed (@SaveLeithHill), both of which show a broad body of support – from residents, from walkers and cyclists, from naturalists and from people who simply care. All of which is strangely reassuring at a time when some reassurance is needed.
Nimbyism?
And no, it’s not nimbyism. It’s a broad fight. Sussex is under threat too. The government overturned decisions in favour of the objectors in Lancashire. The desire to make money from ruining our countryside is strong, and not localised. Government seems set on encouraging this rather than on supporting the development of alternative energy sources. We’ve heard a lot in recent weeks about the rise of populism, fuelled by politicians seeming out of touch. Well, here’s an issue on which they would do well to start to listen. Maybe the government might turn into the handsome prince of the fairy tale? Okay, that’s a long shot, but even if public pressure makes them do the right thing begrudgingly, it will be a worthwhile victory.