THE group opposed to exploratory oil and gas drilling from Swanage’s California Quarry have held a ‘Protest Picnic’ at the site.

Stop the Gas Rig members believe any drilling would spell environmental disaster for the area.
Plans for temporary oil and gas exploration at the site have been approved by county hall, but postponed until the winter of 2015/16.

InfraStrata, the company behind the proposals, announced earlier this month that they were delaying drilling because of earlier delays in receiving a licence from the government.

The firm, which must start drilling before February 2016 to meet license conditions, had originally hoped to start the work this winter.

InfraStrata insist drilling will not involve hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, either now or in the future. However, Stop the Gas Rig believe the threat cannot be ruled out.