Frack Free Ryedale said around 1,000 people marched through Malton yesterday (Saturday 25^th April 2015) in the biggest ever anti-fracking rally in Yorkshire.

The event was organised to protest about Third Energy’s plans to frack for gas across the Ryedale district in North Yorkshire.

Anti-fracking march in Ryedale. Picture by Richard Watson

A march through Malton town centre ended at a rally in Castle Gardens, where there were speeches from local anti-fracking politicians, campaigners and residents who live near the proposed fracking well at Kirby Misperton.

Third Energy is preparing a planning application to frack its well at Kirby Misperton. Frack Free Ryedale says the company has conceded it could frack up to 950 wells at 19 sites across the area.

Rally organiser Jo White said, “We were overwhelmed by the number of people who made the effort to attend the rally today. At least 95% of people were from towns and villages across Ryedale, and they came to protest about Third Energy’s plans to frack here. Fracking is becoming the biggest election issue in our area, and the fact that this was the biggest protest ever seen in Ryedale underlines the concern people have.”

Chris Redston, Communications Director from Frack Free Ryedale, added:

“The huge turnout of local residents today showed that more and more people in Ryedale are extremely worried about the threat of fracking.

“Since Third Energy announced in March that they are planning up to 950 wells on 19 sites across Ryedale, people are realising that fracking is a threat to their health, their businesses, the tourist industry and day-to-day life in the countryside.”

Chris Redstone added: “Fracking poses a serious threat to tourism and agriculture – how many tourists are going to come here for their holidays if fracking goes ahead?

“This area is being promoted as the food capital of Yorkshire so the last thing the food industry needs is fracking on the doorstep.

“It is important we stand up to the industry now and take a stance because once it starts it will be very hard to stop.”