More than 100,000 people have signed a petition amid fears of water pollution due to controversial oil drilling plans which could affect Sutton residents.

The campaign urges regulatory body the Environmental Agency (EA) to reject the environmental permit applications by Europa Oil & Gas in Leith Hill, Dorking, for onshore oil and gas ‘explanatory operations’.

Sutton and East Surrey (SES) Water, a water-only company which supplies people in areas which include east Surrey and south London, has objected to the plans.

One resident said: “We are encouraged that so many people agree the water pollution risks from oil drilling using acid and other chemicals are unacceptable. We call on the Environment Agency to act on our concerns by rejecting this application.

“Short-term oil extraction is increasingly being prioritised by our Government over the protection of our water resource.

“Water will ultimately be much more valuable and important to our nation than oil. It's short term thinking at its worst.

“Water is both a vital natural resource and a heritage, which must be protected, defended and treated as such.

“We would like to invite any local people who have concerns over the safety of our water due to the proposed acidisation drilling process, to join us in handing in this petition.

“We hope it makes a difference to the EA’s decision.”

A total of 101,190 people, at the time of writing, have backed the campaign at the time of writing, with organisers officially handing it in during the public consultation at Dorking Halls on March 1.

SES Water wholesale services director Tom Kelly said: “SES Water is not a statutory consultee in the planning process for the Leith Hill drilling site decision but has been in dialogue with the EA at every stage of the process, including during this latest round of public consultation.

“Should Europa Oil & Gas be granted regulatory and planning permission to drill, they are required to monitor the groundwater before, during and after their operations and are accountable to the EA under the requirements of their environmental permits.

“We would expect the company to have meticulous operational practices in place that are adhered to at all times and for the EA to have rigorous monitoring procedures in place and alert us promptly to any issues that could impact groundwater sources.”

A publication consultation, opened on February 15, is currently active for an environmental permit submitted by Europa Oil and Gas Limited for Holmwood Wellsite in Dorking.

An EA spokesman said: “We invite residents living near the Holmwood oil and gas exploratory site to a drop-in event as part of our consultation on a permit application.

"An environmental permit sets out stringent conditions to which a site must adhere. We will not issue a permit if we consider activities taking place would cause harm to the environment or human health.

“Visitors to the session this Thursday – 1 March – will be able to discuss the application, and talk to Environment Agency staff about how we regulate oil and gas activities."

To see the petition, click here.