Neighbour’s fracking ban closely watched

An energy company’s hope to carry out fracking has been left in doubt after Ryedale Council agreed a five-year moratorium on the controversial mining method.

The district council passed the measure at a meeting last week, after councillors expressed concern about the possible impacts of fracking on health and the environment.

The district has become the focus of the battle over fracking in Yorkshire since Third Energy applied to use the method at a site near Kirby Misperton.

That application will be decided by North Yorkshire County Council so the impact of the Ryedale ‘ban’ will be limited.

However, as an interested party Ryedale Council will be consulted and the motion passed by councillors appears to bind the authority into outright opposition.

A number of sites around Scarborough could be the subject of fracking applications over the coming years so the outcome of Ryedale’s outright opposition will be closely noted.

A Third Energy spokesman said there was no basis for Reydale’s stance.

He said: “There are no grounds for the vote.

“Responsible and internationally respected bodies and experts including Public Health England, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering, have all concluded that the risks of fracking can be managed in a well regulated environment, which we have in the UK.

“Gas has been produced safely and securely, in Ryedale for over two decades.

“We trust that the North Yorkshire County Council, which is the responsible planning authority, will consider all the facts before it makes its decision on our application at Kirby Misperton.

“We will continue engaging with the local communities to inform of the plans, and how any potential risks are managed to ensure minimum impact to the public and the environment.”

This week The Wildlife Trust called upon the Government to uphold its commitment not frack on sites protected for wildlife.