Village in David and Goliath fight over fracking

A DECISION will be made this week over plans to frack on the North York Moors.

North Yorkshire County Council has recommended that Third Energy, the firm behind the fracking plans, be allowed to test for deposits in the area around Kirby Misperton.

Third Energy wants to extract shale gas from around the village, but campaigners are still hoping that they are stopped in their tracks at a meeting of councillors this Friday.

The firm had identified the area as early as 2013, with an application to frack submitted last year.

Last month the Environment Agency granted the firm a permit to frack in the area.

Pollution of groundwater and potential earthquakes have been cited by campaigners, but Third Energy said it had taken “every possible step” to have minimal impact on the environment while fracking.

There has been more than 3,000 written objections sent to the county council planners objecting to the proposals. 

Tourist attraction Flamingo Land will also be negatively impacted by allowing Third Energy to frack in the area, said park chief executive Gordon Gibb said in a letter to the council: Our fear is that the current application is merely the start of a process which will lead to at least 40 local drilling sites within the Ryedale district, then tourism within our area will be negatively affected permanently.

“We were informed that the used water would be piped to containers, removed and treated, but now this does not seem to be the case. Additionally, we now have concern for our beloved, and in many cases critically endangered, animal collection’s welfare.”

 Campaigners have said they will protest, and Dame Vivienne Westwood, the fashion powerhouse, is expected to attend.