PLANS for oil and gas exploration at California Quarry near Swanage have been postponed until winter 2015/16.

InfraStrata, the company behind the development, announced today that the exploratory drilling would be delayed for at least another year because of delays in receiving a licence from the government.

The firm had originally hoped to start the work this winter, but the new terms of the offshore licence state that the oil well will have to be drilled before February 2016.

Any work on the site is restricted to taking place between September and March to abide by the conditions stipulated in the planning consent granted by Dorset County Council.

Dr Andrew Hindle, InfraStrata chief executive, said: “Our short-term goals have been modified, but the overall timescale for the project remains much the same.

“We’ll be spending time before winter 2015/16 further evaluating our wider survey data.”

The firm is holding a drop-in information event on Monday, October 27, between 2pm and 8pm at the Mowlem Theatre in Swanage.

Key company figures will be present at the event to answer any questions from members of the public.