Could a housing estate in Hampshire be sitting on a massive oil reserve?
A massive oil reserve worth millions of pounds could be buried beneath what was once one of Europe’s biggest council estates. Northern Petroleum Ltd wants to build an oil rig near Leigh Park in Havant, Hants, and drill 6,000ft beneath the ground. It has applied to build a two-acre exploration site on a patch of grassland close to a B&Q superstore on the estate. The company thinks millions of barrels of oil could be found at the site after undertaking geological surveys. Northern Petroleum has applied for temporary permission to drill at the site 24 hours a day over four weeks. If no oil is struck then the operation will be abandoned. But if substantial oil reserves are found, it could become a permanent rig. However, the idea has been criticised for its impact on the environment and possible increase in traffic and disturbance to residents. The rig would include a 108ft mast and, as the drilling is 24 hours, the site would need to be lit at night. Leigh Park councillor June Hanan said:
