TORY-RUN Surrey County Council gave the green light for further fracking tests yesterday, ignoring the concerns of campaigners who claim that drilling has already caused nosebleeds.

Residents joined campaigners outside County Hall in Kingston, with some saying that they were moving out of areas near Dorking and Horley for the sake of their health.

Activists from Frack Free Surrey taped their mouths shut and stood in silence to highlight how they have been denied a voice in the planning process related to drilling for oil on Leith Hill, near Dorking.

While a decision on further activity on Leith Hill was deferred yesterday, drilling consortium Horse Hill Developments was granted permission to dig a second well and carry out three more years of drilling on Horse Hill, near Horley.

Local resident Melissa Moore called it “ecocide” and slammed the council for not researching associated health risks.

Giving evidence at the planning discussion, she claimed drilling tests at Horse Hill last year had caused nosebleeds in horses and people.

Max Bower, who lives near Leith Hill — classed as an area of outstanding natural beauty — told the Star that the council was “more interested in business and money” than the welfare of residents. The nearest house is just 100 yards from the drilling site.

Local groups have complained to Mole Valley District Council, which is being consulted on the plans, about its failure to put the Leith Hill proposals on the agenda of a recent meeting, leaving many locals unaware that there was a debate they could attend.

Mr Bower said that neither county councillors nor residents had been allowed to speak about the plans.

“A lot of it is about setting a precedent — if it can be done in one of the most protected areas, it can be done anywhere.”

The Tory government continues to support fracking for shale oil and gas, despite the need to leave fossil fuels in the ground, and did not mention it in its woefully inadequate Clean Growth Plan.