North Yorkshire fracking decision date set

A DECISION on whether to allow an energy company to frack at a site in North Yorkshire is to be made next month.

Third Energy submitted plans to extract shale gas at a site near Kirby Misperton in Ryedale in 2015.

North Yorkshire County Council said that the application will be considered by its planning committee on May 20.

Rasik Valand, chief executive of Third Energy, said: “We are pleased that the North Yorkshire County Council has now set the date for the planning and regulatory functions committee to consider our application to hydraulically fracture certain sections within the existing KM8 well in Kirby Misperton.  

“We look forward to the planning committee members’ visit to the operating well site in Kirby Misperton as they will have the opportunity to see the well site as it operates; understand the environmental protection measures already in place, and the high standards to which the site was built.”

Third Energy said it has taken “every possible step” to minimise disruption to the local community.

Environmental permits have already been granted to the company by the Environment Agency.

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