Climate activist Surrey grandmother ends 100 mile walking challenge today
She is fundraising for a judicial review of a decision to allow oil production.
Last updated 2nd Oct 2020
A grandmother from Dorking ends a 100 mile walk across Surrey and West Sussex today, in protest against plans for oil drilling in the area.
71-year-old Pat Smith is raising money for a Judicial Review of Surrey County Council’s decision in September 2019 to allow four new oil wells and 20 years of commercial oil production at Horse Hill, near Gatwick Airport.
Pat set off on her journey from the Brockham oil site in Betchworth on Monday and aims to finish it at Horse Hill today.
Among the sites she walked through are areas targeted for drilling including Leith Hill and Dunsfold.
Speaking before her departure Pat explained why she was taking on the challenge: “This week-long walk is quite challenging as I’ve never done this before but this is one way I can help in a case that is so important. I have been lost on a number of occasions and some of the stiles are quite difficult to climb but it's worth it. The support I have been getting has been incredible, I’m so grateful.
“This Judicial Review is not only significant to the area of Horse Hill but has national consequences. If this succeeds, not only will the Horse Hill oil site lose its planning permission, but it could mean that planning authorities have to assess all carbon emissions arising from planning applications for fossil fuel exploration. This could have an enormous impact because despite being in a climate emergency, they’re not doing that.”
Pat has so far raised more than £3,600 through an online crowdfunding page, which will go towards the Surrey Oil Legal Challenge Fund.
A spokesperson for Surrey County Council said it was not able to comment at this stage:
“We are aware that permission has been granted for a judicial review of the Horse Hill planning application. As those proceedings have now commenced, we are unable to comment further.”