Anti fracking campaigners gathered in a North Yorkshire village today to remember their battle against plans to extract shale gas.

The reunion at Kirby Misperton marked Earth Day and six years since the clearance of fracking equipment from Third Energy’s KM8 wellsite in spring 2018.

About 30 people from across northern England met at the site gate, the scene of daily protests during the preparations for fracking.

Hazel Winter, who was part of the local campaign against shale gas, said:

“It was really good to see everyone again.”

Another local campaigner, Sue Gough, said:

“We laughed about the escapades we got involved in.”

But she said:

“I feel we are still recovering from what happened here.”

Almost eight years ago, in May 2016, North Yorkshire County Council granted planning permission for fracking at Kirby Misperton.

Third Energy created a fracking pad in autumn 2017.

Campaigners from across the UK converged on Kirby Misperton to oppose the plans. Protests included the occupation of the rig and the construction of two wooden towers blocking the site entrance.

There were more than 50 arrests between September and November 2017.

But the frack never happened because of government concerns about Third Energy’s finances.

The KM8 well is now a pilot for geothermal energy, run by CeraPhi Energy.

Hazel Winter said local people supported the new use of the site. She said:

“It protects us from fracking.”

DrillOrDrop’s Kirby Misperton timeline

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Comment from Mike Potter

As I was between meetings, I only managed to get along to KM8 as they were packing up, but still good to see people there in such lousy weather.

It’s somewhat ironic that I’ve been working with the ‘old enemy’ Third Energy since my first meeting with MD Russell Hoare in early 2020. We’re now in the early stages of trying to develop a geothermal local energy network in Pickering, with the prospect of massive decarbonisation, cost reduction, energy security and the added benefit of being independent of our unfit for purpose National Grid. PTCIC managed to get a grant from the UKSPF/NYC to fund the initial feasibility work. Meetings with potential ‘offtakers’ are ongoing.