The attempt to find oil in Easton-under-Water has so far proved fruitless, with the drilling rig only turning up a tube of Ambre Solaire tanning oil, believed to have been left behind in 1976, when the area was known to have been in use as an outdoor swimming pool.
Easton-under-Water Council had hoped that the oil rig would be in place in July and would strike oil almost instantly, bringing untold riches and visitors to the town. However, construction was delayed by two months and the structure wasn’t complete until the end of September.
Drilling has already had to be suspended on a few occasions due to the weather and planning permission for the structure is due to expire in November, meaning that it will have to be dismantled and taken away after just over a month of operation.
The scheme is part of a £120 million project for The Brexit Festival, promoted to show the world exactly what the UK is capable of after leaving Europe and is one of ten such projects around the country. The proportion of money spent on this fruitless endeavour in Easton-under-Water is unknown but has come in for criticism from Easton-under-Water residents and a number of Councillors in the town.
Illiberal MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Culture Committee has written to the National Audit Office to demand an inquiry into the project branding it “a waste of a large sum of taxpayers’ money’“.
However, BeFuddled Party Easton-under-Water Councillor, Mike Shammiford has defended the project saying “I am more than happy with the promotional value the Search for Oil has brought to Easton. It’s an absolutely brilliant project and although neither myself nor my party supported Brexit we have no scruples when it comes to accepting cash to promote the cause.
The Brexit Festival and our oil rig in particular has proved to be a resounding success, and although the town hasn’t benefitted in terms of the promised increase in wealth, Easton-under-Water is now firmly on the map.”
SomersetClive pointed out to Cllr Shammiford that most of the press coverage relating to the scheme referred to it as ‘an unmitigated disaster‘, but Cllr Shammiford put his fingers in his ears and replied” La La La, can’t hear you.”