This website has been created to provide information about, and to oppose, the proposal by Technology Investment & Exploration Ltd (TIEL) to explore for oil in the heart of Charnwood Forest in rural Leicestershire, UK, close to the picturesque villages of Quorn, Woodhouse, Swithland  & Woodhouse Eaves.

Frequently asked questions:
Please click on the links below for answers to these questions.

What is the substance of the planning application?

Where is the exact location of the proposed initial bore hole?

How do they know that there is oil in this area?

Does the geology of the area indicate the likely presence of oil?

Do we need this oil?

Why should this planning application be opposed?

What can I do to object to this planning application?

What is CFOAG?

How can I support CFOAG?

What is the attitude of the villages' Parish Councils?

What is the attitude of Charnwood Borough Council?

What are the campaign developments?

What is the substance of the planning application?

The applicant, TIEL, has applied for planning permission (P/01/1646/2) to explore for oil by sinking an initial exploratory bore hole 3,200 metres deep in an area of approx 1.75 hectares at Vicary Farm in the land between Quorn and Woodhouse Eaves.   This will involve laying a raised stone roadway for approx 1.5Km next to the Great Central Railway line from Woodhouse Road to the Vicary Farm site.

To lay this road will require approx 8,300 tonnes of stone (415 lorry-loads), transported along the Woodhouse Road from the A6 bypass.   This means there will be a 20 tonne lorry using this road every 20 minutes.  Road laying will take an estimated 8 weeks & will occur from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., Monday to Friday and 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Once installed, the drilling rig will be 150 feet tall (equivalent to a 17-storey block of flats), will be floodlit and will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   There would be a multitude of traffic movements on Woodhouse road and on a raised stone road alongside the Great Central Railway line to support this operation.  There would be increased air pollution from dust and from diesel fumes from the electricity generators.

If no oil is found, TIEL undertakes to restore the land to its original appearance with the caveat... "weather permitting".

This road-laying and exploratory drilling it scheduled to last approximately 20 weeks, although due to the limited availability of the drilling rig (apparently there are only two such rigs in the country), this time period is unlikely to be in a single span.   Planning permission is being sought for an initial period of 2 years.

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Where is the exact location of the proposed initial bore hole?

The site of the initial proposed bore hole is at Vicary Farm approx 1.5Km from the Woodhouse Road and close to Swithland Reservoir.   It would be accessed by a raised stone road which would be laid alongside the steam railway line of the Great Central Railway.

Blue asterisk (*) on map indicates proposed access to site in amended application.
For a more detailed map of this area, visit streetmap.co.uk

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How do they know that there is oil in this area?

The answer is that they don't for sure.   But, TIEL claims to have used something called "microlepton" technology to prospect for this oil which involves using satellites & helicopters to detect microlepton radiation emitted from subsurface deposits of oil.   (Indeed, TIEL was set up as a company explicitly to demonstrate this new technology).   However, Alkor International Ltd, who declare they have a patent on Microlepton Geo-Vision Technology, strongly deny any association with TIEL and this application to drill in Charnwood Forest (see the denial on their website).

It is claimed that this technique gives a more reliable indication of the presence of oil and other deposits than other, conventional, methods.  However eminent physicists in the UK and elsewhere in the world say that there is no such thing as a microlepton and that the technology is bunk.

For example, Prof Robin Marshall FRS, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manchester told us...

"I have trawled for information about "microleptons" and read what the proponents are saying.  It is completely bogus and constitutes a scientific hoax or fraud.  It has no substance in fact and there is not a shred of evidence for its existence, nor is there a need, within our understanding of the physical world in which we live, for it to exist.  Therefore, any technology based on it is equally bogus. The claims that it has already been used with success, for example in North Korea, are therefore empty".

John Dowell FRS, Poynting Professor of Physics at the University of Birmingham, said the process "would defy the laws of physics".

In a letter to CFOAG, Prof Dowell said: "I can give you my full assurance as an active particle physicist that you can be confident in rejecting any evidence for oil deposits based on the reported use of this technology."

The whole concept of "microleptons" has also been discredited in Russia.   See for example http://www.csicop.org/si/9607/russia.html 

How, then, can the authorities (at both local and central government level) take this application seriously?

Judge for yourself whether you think it is a crackpot concept.   See for example:
http://ledinsky.narod.ru/Mummy.html

We find it unbelievable and unacceptable that the authorities are willing to let a foreign company tear up an area of particularly attractive countryside in Leicestershire on the basis of this "science".

See what the scientific journals have to say:
Article in Physics World, July 2002 (Journal of The Institute of Physics)
on "microleptons" and our oil action group.   Also available to download as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file (size 316K) which requires (free) Acrobat Reader to view.

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Does the geology of the area indicate the likely presence of oil?

Frankly, No!
We do not believe that TIEL's interpretation of the geology of our area is valid.

We asked the British Geological Survey (a Government Agency) to look at TIEL's application.   The BGS told us:

"It appears that the TIEL interpretation has not taken into account either the local surface geology or the limited seismic refraction work that had been carried out at this location some 20-30 years ago, and which is published in the accounts of Whitcombe and Maguire (1981) and Davies and Matthews (1966).  If this work had been looked at , it would have allowed TIEL to conclude that the geology here is simple, consisting of probably 60-100m of Triassic strata that directly overlie Charnian or Mountsorrel-type ‘basement’ crystalline rocks, with no carboniferous strata being present.’

Why then, should TIEL's application be taken seriously?

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Do we need this oil?

We believe the answer is "No".   TIEL says there is a 1 in 10 chance of finding oil and that the yield is likely to be meagre.   A similar site at Rempstone, 9 Km away, produces only 50 barrels of oil a day from the same Namurian sandstones.   Yet the North Sea has known reserves of 5 billion barrels, of which 2.2 million barrels are extracted daily.*   One third of this is exported!  Thus, we do not see why this development is even being contemplated in Charnwood Forest.

*source: www.eia.doe.gov

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Why should this planning application be opposed?

CFOAG believes there are many reasons to oppose this application:

• it would desecrate part of Charnwood Forest, designated as an area of particularly attractive countryside (APAC) and disturb the wildlife therein
• site access would constitute a hazard on the Woodhouse Road and would violate Highways Regulations
• use of the Woodhouse Road by these lorries would constitute a real risk to the many children and parents who use this road to walk to & from the local schools
• Woodhouse Road was de-classified several years ago for the very purpose of stopping heavy vehicles driving into Charnwood Forest
• the application violates the various local County & Borough planning policies
• the scheme would generate increased noise, risk of ground pollution, increased air pollution from well gases, dust and diesel fumes & risk of water pollution (Swithland Reservoir is only a few hundred yards from the proposed initial bore hole)
• it represents a potential risk to local businesses, e.g. Swithland Spring Water
• whilst this planning application to explore for oil is for a finite period (2 years), the discovery of extractable quantities of oil would result in further planning applications to extract the oil on a permanent basis - turning this rural area into an industrial area.

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What can I do to object to this planning application?

Since planning approval has now been granted by Leicestershire County Council, writing to them will be of little use.

However, you can offer us support by writing to the local MPs for the area, namely
Andy Reed (MP for Loughborough) and Stephen Dorrell (MP for Charnwood), telling them that you oppose the scheme and that you agree with the stance they are taking in supporting us.   The address is:

House of Commons,
London,
SW1A 0AA

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What is CFOAG?

The Charnwood Forest Oil Action Group (CFOAG) consists of a group of residents of the villages bordering the proposed bore hole site (see our logo).  Its aim is to oppose the plan by TIEL to drill for oil in the vicinity of villagers' homes and despoil this designated area of particularly attractive countryside (APAC) in the beautiful Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire.

So far the Group has:

• sought the assistance of professional planning & legal advisers, so that we can put forward the best relevant case in planning terms to Leicestershire County Counci to oppose this application
• tried to influence the Parish Councils & Charnwood Borough Council to oppose the application
• raised public awareness through the media ensuring that the story has appeared in the Leicester Mercury, Loughborough Echo and Loughborough Mail. Oak FM and Radio Leicester have covered the story as well as the TV stations
• encouraged villagers to write letters of objection to Leicestershire County Council (nearly 500 such letters have been received at County Hall)
• organised a petition opposing the scheme which, when handed in to Leicestershire County Council on 14th March 2002, had been signed by over 2000 people in Quorn, Woodhouse, Swithland and Woodhouse Eaves
• produced and distributed "Stop the Oil" stickers
• held village meetings to discuss the matter and heighten villagers' awareness
• held discussions with local MPs and relevant Government Ministers
• galvanised the scientific community to refute categorically the existence of  "microleptons"
• commissioned this website.

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How can I support CFOAG?

You can support the Charnwood Forest Oil Action Group  by:

• sending a donation, if you can, to finance the Group's activities to: Charnwood Forest Oil Action Group, c/o Ian Agar, Charnwood Accounting Services Ltd, 3 Museum Square, Leicester, LE1 6UF
• displaying a "Stop the Oil" sticker in your car or in your window
• lobbying your local MPs
• supporting our future activities.

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What is the attitude of the villages' Parish Councils?

The Parish Councils have voted to oppose this planning application.
The minutes of the Quorn Parish Council meeting of 7th August 2001, at which this planning application was discussed are available online (Minute 01/93-1 refers).

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What is the attitude of Charnwood Borough Council?

The Charnwood Borough Council Plans Committee 2 considered this planning application on 16th August 2001 and agreed to "raise no objection", subject to 6 conditions. 

Subsequently, 5 councillors objected and so, under Council rules, the decision was referred to Charnwood Borough’s Regulatory Committee.   This committee met on 3rd September 2001 and a motion to oppose the application was narrowly defeated 5-4 with 2/3 abstentions.      It was then proposed that this committee should endorse the "raise no objection" decision of the Plans Committee 2, subject to a further 3 conditions.   This proposal was carried, 7-2.

However, 5 councillors again subsequently objected so the proposal was discussed at a full Council meeting on 17th September 2001.   At this meeting, the Council voted to uphold the decision of the Regulatory Committee and to raise no objection to the planning application.

CFOAG believes that in so doing, the Council has singularly failed to protect the interests of the residents whom it represents and is at variance with its own Sustainability Strategy.   We have extracted relevant key points from this document.

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What are the campaign developments?

February 2002:

• Independent UK experts expose the flawed oil drilling application, based on "pseudo-scientific" Russian technology.   
• CFOAG calls for a public inquiry.  Read our press release.
• A very well-supported public meeting was held in Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall on 11th February 2002.   
• Local MPs Stephen Dorrell and Andy Reed MP have urged the Minister, Stephen Byers to call-in the application.  Andy Reed's news release.  Stephen Dorrell's letter to Stephen Byers.  Report of Stephen Dorrell's support for a pubic enquiry.   CFOAG response to MPs' support.
• The Development Control & Regulatory Board of Leicestershire County Council considered the application on 14th February 2002.   It was agreed that there should be a site visit on 7th March 2002 and that consideration of the application would be deferred until 14th March 2002.   Documentation for this February meeting is available as an Adobe Acrobat  PDF file (size 210K) but you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to read it.  If you don't have it, you must first download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe site (it's free) before you download the PDF file.
  
  [Tip: Right click on the PDF file link above and save the file to disk using the "Save Target As..." / "Save Link As..."  option in IE/Netscape respectively]

March 2002:

• The Development Control & Regulatory Board of Leicestershire County Council agreed. at its meeting of 14th March, to allow the application by TIEL to explore for oil, despite the reservations expressed by eminent scientists about the basis of TIEL's proposal and receiving a petition containing over 2000 signatures from local people opposing the application.   How can this Council claim to be representing the interests its residents?
• Our protest and our website have been featured on the BBC's website.
• Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, has provided assurances that statutory consent to TIEL to drill the well will depend on whether the geology of the area merits this.
• Andy Reed, a local MP, has asked for a meeting of relevant parties (including CFOAG) with Brian Wilson, Minister of State for Energy & Industry to discuss the scientific basis of TIEL's flawed application.

May 2002:

• Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, has given Stephen Dorrell (a local MP) assurances that granting statutory consent to drill the well will depend on whether the operation is merited on geological grounds.   CFOAG contests that TIEL's assessment of the geology of our area is accurate and sound.   Members from the British Geological Survey are similarly sceptical.

• Andy Reed, a local MP, has written to Brian Wilson, Minister of State for Energy & Industry requesting a meeting of the relevant parties (including CFOAG) to discuss the scientific basis of the application.

June 2002

• Nobel Laureate in Physics backs Oil Action Group & denounces bogus 'microlepton' technology.   Read our press release.

• British Geological Survey says TIEL's geological description of the area 'lacks any scientific basis'.

• Action Group Chairman and local MP’s meet Energy Minister over proposed oil exploration.   Read our press release.

November 2002

• Leicestershire County Council finally grants TIEL planning permission to drill an exploratory bore hole.  Read our press release.

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Useful Links

...ABOUT OUR LOCAL AREA:

Quorn village website
The Quorndon Magazine website
Woodhouse Eaves village website
Charnwood Forest on the Leicestershire County Council website
Charnwood area of Leicestershire on the charnwoodonline.net website
The geology of Charnwood Forest by Mike Lewis (1996 - extract from The Rocks of Charnwood Forest: A Study in Structural Geomorphology published in Trent Geographer)
Loughborough town website

...ABOUT THE OIL& "microleptons":

Energy reserves in the UK from the US government DOE website
Alkor International Ltd and Microlepton Geo-Vision Technology
Talking to an Egyptian mummy using microleptons
Article in Physics World (Journal of the Institute of Physics)

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This site is maintained by CFOAG
© Copyright 2001- CFOAG
It was last updated on: 02/09/2005