The Environment Agency has extended the consultation period at a second site where lower-volume fracking is planned in Yorkshire.

The regulator said it was minded to approve an application to carry out small-scale hydraulic fracturing at the West Newton-A site in Holderness, East Yorkshire.

A deadline for final comments had been set for 9 September 2025.

But after local calls for an extension, the Environment Agency said the consultation period would now run until 6 October 2025.

This follows an previous extension for comments on an application for a similar process at Burniston near Scarborough.

“We need more time”

Earlier this month, the community group, West Newton Said No, asked the Environment Agency for more time to comment on the environmental impact of the fracturing plans.

It said it needed a longer consultation period to assess new complex, technical information.

The group complained that the documents included no hydraulic fracturing plan.

There were also concerns that the consultation was during summer holidays when the public and specialists may be unavailable to comment.

West Newton Said No said:

“We got the extension until 6^th October.

“Thank you. This gives us breathing space but the hard work carries on.”

The group also asked for public information events to help people understand details of the proposal. It said:

“We still need information events, face-to-face and online so please request them.”

People can respond to the consultation (EPR/BB3001FT/V006) online or by email to pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk or by contacting the EA on 03708 506 506.