Anti-fracking campaigners were outside council headquarters in North Yorkshire again today – nearly nine years after councillors approved plans for hydraulic fracturing in Ryedale.

This time, the protest was about plans by Europa Oil & Gas plc to use small-scale fracking at a proposed gas exploration site on the edge of Burniston on the North Yorkshire Heritage Coast.

The company is preparing a planning application, which will include proppant squeeze, a form of low volume hydraulic fracturing.

North Yorkshire independent councillor, Rich Maw, raised the issue at a meeting of the full council today.

He asked the Conservative leadership whether it supported the principle of local consent and how residents should express concerns about increased numbers of heavy lorries generated by the site if it went ahead.

He also asked whether the environmental impact of the proposals would be properly considered.

Planners at North Yorkshire Council had ruled that Europa should carry out a detailed study, known as an environmental impact assessment (EIA), of the Burniston plans.

The company successfully appealed against the ruling to the local government secretary. But it later it said it would carry out an EIA anyway.

Cllr Maw said the Burniston EIA would be like Europa marking its own homework:

“I asked if the council ought to be reaching out to local ecologists, wildlife groups and more in order that we may properly scrutinise the energy companies reporting.”

He said his questions were “politely received” but “very little else in way of action or reassurance was forthcoming.

Parish council seeks residents’ views

Burniston Parish Council is seeking the views of residents on Europa’s plans.

The council, along with others nearby, has been investigating the implications of the Burniston scheme.

The council said:

“We are at the stage where we need to hear more from our residents. It is important that we include the views of the people we represent, whether you are in favour of, or opposed to, the application.”

Residents can send their views by email to clerk@burnistonparishcouncil.gov.uk or via the council’s Facebook page.

The council is also organising a drop-in event on Friday 28 February 2025 from 2pm-6pm at Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall.

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