AN oilfield which has been in operation for more than a decade has been given a glowing report in a periodic review of the sites by Hampshire County Council.
When plans for commercial exploitation of the Stockbridge oilfield won permission in 1988 there were concerns about the environmental impact of the proposal.
But in a report to the council's regulatory committee the oilfield is said to be 'inconspicuous' and operated in an environmentally acceptable manner.
Under the planning conditions the oilfield will have be removed by the end of 2016 - no more than 48 wells can be drilled. The only wells now operating in the Test Valley borough are about a mile east of Chilbolton Down.
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