Campaigners take North Yorkshire fracking case to High Court
CAMPAIGNERS have today applied to the the High Court for a judicial review of the decision to allow fracking in North Yorkshire.
On 23 May, North Yorkshire County councillors decided in a seven to four vote to allow Third Energy to frack in the Ryedale area. Ryedale District Council had previously voted against the area, but this was superseded by the county council vote.
This was the first time since 2011 a company had been allowed a fracking licence.
Friends of the Earth and Frack Free Ryedale applied to the High Court for a judicial review, of the decision to allow fracking in Kirby Misperton, near the North Yorks Moors National Park.
The groups said that the council had failed to properly assess climate change, saying it did not consider the impact of burning gas extracted to create electricity at nearby Knapton power station.
They said the council also failed to secure long term financial protection against environmental damage.
Simon Bowens, Yorkshire and Humber campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said: “Shale gas is a dirty fossil fuel and it is the responsibility of North Yorkshire County Council to require a full assessment of the impact this fracking application would have on the climate. They failed to do that, and this is why we believe the courts need to consider the way that this decision was arrived at by 7 councillors in May.”
The case will now proceed to the Permission Stage where the Court will decide whether or not a full hearing should be carried out. This is likely to happen in the next few weeks.
