Plea over test drill site

Countryside campaigners have called for "the strictest possible" noise control regulations to be placed over a proposal for a round-the-clock test drilling operation near a Shropshire village.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England fears the planned 24-hour drilling operation to search for natural gas deep underground near St Martins, which could last up to two months, could disturb villagers' sleep.

The campaign group has called for Shropshire Council to measure predicted noise levels before considering the application.

The application has been lodged by energy firm Composite Energy which wants to carry out a 24-hour drilling operation for up to two months on land at New Marton, about two miles from St Martins, to see if a coal seam deep underground contains the natural gas coal bed methane.

The firm is seeking permission to drill a temporary appraisal borehole to retrieve coal. The coal's structure and gas content will then be examined to see if the site is appropriate for coal bed methane production in the future.

In papers lodged with planning chiefs, the firm says work will be carried out to minimise noise from the exploratory operation.

But the CPRE's Shropshire branch has made representations.

It said: "The matter under discussion is noise at night which has the potential to disturb sleep."

The council hopes to determine the application by October.