BALCOMBE, England, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Most respondents to a survey on oil drilling in Balcombe, an English village in West Sussex County, said they opposed Cuadrilla Resources, a referendum found.
The Balcombe Parish Council asked residents if it should support a new application from Cuadrilla to conduct more tests at an exploration well started last year. Of the 897 valid ballots counted, 536 of the respondents said the council should oppose the application.
In September, the company said conventional drilling confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons at the Balcombe site but further testing was needed to determine the reserve potential.
If Cuadrilla or another company asks to conduct a hydraulic fracturing campaign, 548 of the respondents from a pool of 898 valid ballots from a separate measure said the council should reject the request.
The drilling site in Balcombe was the target of protesters concerned Cuadrilla's campaign was a prelude to a hydraulic fracturing operation. Hydraulic fracturing, known also as fracking, was not conducted at the site.
There was no statement from Cuadrilla about the results of the referendum. Results were published Monday.
