Date set for decision on Burniston gas drilling rig plans
North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee will debate Europa Oil & Gas’ plan
A date has been set for councillors to decide on controversial plans for a gas drilling rig in North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee will debate Europa Oil & Gas’ plan to install a 98ft (30m) tall drilling rig on land in Burniston, near Scarborough, at a meeting on Friday, January 30.
The scheme proposes using a controversial “proppant squeeze” method to extract the gas.
The firm has said the site, near the North York Moors National Park, is a “potentially significant gas resource” and, if further approvals were granted, extraction could take place for “about 20 years”.
However, the firm has faced opposition from local residents and politicians, including the Reform-led Scarborough Town Council, over concerns about the environmental and economic impact of the scheme. It has also been opposed by Labour MP Alison Hume and the county’s elected mayor, David Skaith.
Europa Oil & Gas said its scheme would be positive for the local economy and “no-one is going to notice” its presence.
The company has previously said that a “slurry” would be injected into the well to fracture surrounding rocks, allowing more gas to be recovered.
Councillors sitting on the authority’s strategic planning committee will consider the application and its proposals at 1.30pm on Friday, January 30 at Scarborough Town Hall.
During the meeting, there will be an opportunity for the applicant, objectors’ representative, the local member for the Scalby and the Coast division on North Yorkshire Council, and a Burniston Parish Council representative to each speak for a maximum of five minutes.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips, said: “We recognise that this is a planning application that has attracted significant public interest.
“We have received more than 1,500 representations as part of the planning process, and we understand that many people feel strongly and passionately about the proposals that have been submitted.
“As with all planning applications, I would like to reassure everyone that all representations will be carefully considered by members of the committee prior to any decision being made.”
The decision to hold the meeting at Scarborough Town Hall comes despite a recommendation to use a larger venue, due to the significant local interest in the proposal.
In December, Burniston Parish Council said: “Previously, North Yorkshire Council has used the town hall, a venue with very limited public viewing.
“We have seen previously that people are unable to attend planning meetings due to the numbers, as the town hall is too small.”
The parish council had recommended the use of Scarborough Spa as a venue for the planning meeting.