Decision day for controversial gas drilling rig near Yorkshire Coast
Campaigners are planning a protest outside the meeting
A decision is expected later on controversial plans for a 38 metre gas drilling rig near the North York Moors National Park.
The proposal by Europa Oil & Gas is to construct a temporary wellsite to assess the potential for natural gas in Burniston near Scarborough, and has been recommended for approval by planning officers.
A meeting to decide on the scheme was postponed in January after requests were made that the government look into the application.
However, the plans were not called in by the government and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG ) said the secretary of state was “content that it should be determined by the local planning authority”.
Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee will consider the application and its proposals when they meet at Scarborough Town Hall.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips, whose responsibilities include planning committees, said: “We know that this is a planning application that has attracted significant public interest, with more than 1,500 representations made about the proposals.
“As is the case with all planning applications, members of the committee will carefully consider all representations prior to any decision being made.”
January’s planning meeting was postponed just days before the decision was due to be made and a public demonstration had been planned to coincide with the gathering.
Prof Chris Garforth, of Frack Free Coastal Communities, previously raised concerns about the possible effects of the venture.
He said: “We’re worried that, as has happened elsewhere, pollutants and chemicals from the process will find new pathways through the fracked rocks into the aquifers (a layer of rock, sand, or earth that contains water) on which Scarborough depends for its drinking water.
“We’re also worried about above-ground effects such as air pollution, dust pollution, noise pollution and light pollution.”
In a statement Europa Oil and Gas said: 'The proposed development in terms of planning is very straight forward. The development is temporary in nature and is for a single appraisal well to test a gas accumulation, something which has been delivered safely and in an environmentally sound manner many times historically in the UK.
The planning application has been put forward for approval by the Council’s officers.
Concerns with respect to elements of the operational procedures associated with the development, such as the proposed proppant squeeze, a small volume hydraulic fracture, fall outside of development planning and will be dealt with under national regulations and authorities. Frack Free Coastal Communities should not be seeking to intimidate and mislead councillors with respect to the planning process.'