“No chance” of North Yorkshire fracking this year as appeal is delayed

DELAYS to the hearing against Third Energy mean there is now “now chance” that fracking will commence at its North Yorkshire site this year.

Campaigners applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the decision to allow Third Energy the frack at its Kirby Misperton site after it obtained planning permission on 23 May.

North Yorkshire County councillors decided seven to four that it would allow fracking, despite local Ryedale authorities rejecting the plan.

A date has been set for the judicial review brought by Friends of the Earth and Frack Free Ryedale but this will not be until 23 November – far later than had been anticipated.

The groups said that the council had failed to properly assess climate change, saying it did not consider the impact of burning gas that will be extracted to create electricity at nearby Knapton power station.

They said the council also failed to secure long term financial protection against environmental damage.

No fracking has been undertaken since 2011, when Cuadrilla caused earth tremors as it was fracking in Lancashire.