Protect Our North Coast to hold public meeting over drilling

Protect Our North Coast (PONC) are holding a public meeting on Wednesday 29th April at 7pm in Ballinlea Orange Hall to update local people, farmers and businesses on the latest developments in their campaign and to ask for a show of community strength in opposing the proposed well.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Apr 2015, 08:00 BST

Rathlin Energy Ltd has applied to the Planning Service to drill and undertake testing of an oil/gas exploration well at 49 Ballinlea Road.

Local residents and Protect Our North Coast (PONC) members say they are concerned about the potential impacts this well could have on public health.

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Locals opposed to the drilling say that site preparation is expected to last for 8 weeks, Monday to Saturday from 7am to 6pm. “Drilling will be around the clock and last between 9 to 12 weeks, day and night, creating noise, vibration, and light, both day and night during that period. And the waste water and sludge needs to be taken away after drilling.”

Residents and the Protect Our North Coast (PONC) group would urge everyone who lives in Rathlin Energy’s petroleum licence area (which covers a large area from Ballycastle, through Ballintoy, Bushmills, Portballintrae, Portrush, Portstewart, Coleraine, Castlerock to Magilligan, down to Limavady, Macosquin, Aghadowey, and Garvagh and up through Ballymoney and Dervock, Mosside, Stranocum, Ballybogey, Ballyrashane etc.) to look into the proposed exploratory well.