Keep Kirdford and Wisborough ‘Green’

by | Feb 27, 2026 | Village News

A LONG AND WINDING ROADKKWG logo

KKWG is delighted to inform you that the current issue of Drill or Drop (Magazine reporting on the “Fracking” industry), is reporting that UKOG, the oil and gas exploration company, has abandoned their drilling site at Broadford Bridge.  The site, known as a “temporary” by the original developers, was established in May 2013.  Company events held up implementation until May 2017 when a drill arrived and was placed on site.

WSCC turned down the company’s 5th attempt to obtain more time in 2024 but the company did not start work on clearing and repairing the site until January 2026.

Dr Jill Sutcliffe, Chair of KKWG and co-founder WAG

Plugging and abandonment work at Broadford Bridge oil site January2026

Project Timeline

Agreed:  West Sussex County Council Planning Committee approved the application by Celtique Energie in May 2013 at Broadford Bridge (UKOG, 2017).

Drilling outcome: Thank you to stalwart members of the local community and groups which opposed the application and helped to fund it.  The drill never worked and the liquid contents escaped into the surrounding area and the drill was removed in 2018.

  • They assembled much evidence + undertook a whole range of activities:
  • Sent Objections to WSCC
  • Issued a Petition
  • Attended information sessions held in Wisborough Green Parish Hall and Pulborough Village Hall featuring some Australian campaigners who had won their case
  • Undertaking research
  • Presentations made by planners, geologists, direct action, objectors from other sites; those who drew up plans for water in the area
  • Farmers and landowners providing areas for the camp to be established and Providing food to the objector’s camp
  • Digging and preparing the latrines
  • Press coverage, interviews and press release
  • Providing information sheets
  • Regular demonstrations at the site and at the Adversane triangle and crossroads
  • Fund raising including selling artwork
  • Undertaking sponsored bike ride
  • Promoting the issue
  • Direct action – Holding Quaker vigils
  • Running off leaflets
  • Carrying out transport survey with properly qualified assessor and demonstrating with evidence how wrong the application had been
  • WSCC had to pay to repair the road at the crossroads given the number of HGVs using itKey groups: Billingshurst Against Fracking;  Broadford Bridge Action Group,  KKWG; WAG