PROTESTORS opposing plans to test drill for shale gas or oil at Fernhurst have condemned Government incentives announced this week as nothing more than "bribery".

More than 470 objections have been triggered by Celtique Energie's application to the South Downs National Park Authority for permission to drill an exploration well at Nine Acre Copse, in Vann Road.

The deadline for responses is next Wednesday but the national park authority will accept later submissions, ideally by pre-arrangement.

This week, Fernhurst resident Lord Cowdray, who owns 16,500 acres of the South Downs, denounced David Cameron's announcement of enhanced tax revenues for councils giving permission for drill sites as "bribery".

For full story, see this week's Liphook Herald.