Many responses to Europa’s Burniston plans questioned whether there was a need for any gas produced at the site and whether it would benefit the local or national economy.
The company said in its application:
“local and national policy recognise the need for indigenous hydrocarbon extraction to ensure the security of energy supply and reduce national demand for imports, as well as the local economic benefits”.
It said the Burniston site had a potential of 163 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas and would “deliver some economic benefit to the local community.
Europa quoted measures to promote development in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including:
- Paragraph 85: “significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth and productivity”
- Paragraph 87: “planning decisions should address the specific locational requirements of different sectors”
- Paragraph 88: supporting the growth of a prosperous rural economy.
- Paragraph 89: sites for local business “may have to be found adjacent to or beyond existing settlements”
- Paragraph 222 “It is essential that there is a sufficient supply of minerals to provide the infrastructure, buildings, energy and goods that the country needs”
- Paragraph 224: “great weight should be given to the benefits of mineral extraction, including to the economy”
Responses to the consultation
Comments on the application also quoted the NPPF. One detailed response referred to Paragraph 158: applicants for energy projects must demonstrate that alternative, more sustainable energy solutions have been considered”.
One respondent said:
“The proposal inadequately justifies the economic and environmental necessity of exploratory drilling, particularly given uncertainties regarding proppant squeeze efficacy and the UK’s fracking moratorium. Additionally, the applicant has failed to adequately explore viable renewable energy alternatives, violating this planning policy requirement for thorough consideration of sustainable options.”
CPRE East and North Yorkshire said:
“The application of the proppant squeeze technique for hydrocarbon extraction does not provide a sustainable solution for the UK’s energy needs. The energy produced from such methods is finite and does not contribute to the resilience and security of the energy grid. In contrast, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and tidal power offer a more reliable and environmentally-friendly alternative.”
A close neighbour of the site said:
“Europa, are, in their communications, being deliberately obtuse with information on how this will benefit the local community. The site will produce no meaningful employment, and they have informed their shareholders that the gas will be sold on the international market, providing no benefits to the UK and to the local people who will be impacted by the operation – There will be zero impact on our gas bills.”
Burniston Parish Council said:
“There may be some money spent by employees on the site on food and accommodation. That is not expected to be a large number of people, perhaps a dozen at best. There may be economic benefits outside of the area for example road hauliers. The drilling rig will be hired in, a specialist piece of equipment, not locally owned. In discussions with Europa, this was the extent of the benefits to local businesses.
“If this application decision were to be based on nothing more than the National economic benefits and security, then it is clear that the extraction of gas that amounts to between 0.4% and a maximum 1%, of national usage, is such a small addition and comes at the risk of serious potential disruption to our community and environment.”
Another response said Europa should provide further evidence to justify the need for the Burniston proposal:
“the Applicant totally fails to make a clear and convincing case that there is actually a need for the proposed development, and for the broader intent to extract the 163 billion cubic feet from the Cloughton Gas field, to supplement energy supplies in the UK. Information provided by both the Applicant within their submission, and the National Energy System Operator confirms that the demand for gas in the UK is falling each year, as we transition to clean and renewable energy supplies. The majority of the UK’s gas supplies come from UK and Norwegian gas fields, which are considered safe and secure.”
Many responses said any gas extracted at Burniston would be sold on international markets and local people would not benefit. One said:
“The local economic disruption arising from the amount of HGV traffic associated with this project short or long term has been minimised. Congestion on the routes being proposed are already over capacity, causing bottle necks in, around and through Scarborough even before accessing onward routes.”
Europa said the proposal would employ people onsite and in the haulage business. It would also indirectly support local companies, such as electricians, construction services, waste disposal, fuel providers and suppliers of security and welfare.
But this was widely questioned in the consultation. One response said:
“Europa made claims that it will create jobs and be a net positive on the local economy. But the vast majority of jobs coming in the area will be taken up by their own specialist workers from out of this area. The tourist industry supplies far more employment to locals in the area than Europa ever will.”
Another said:
“Europa cannot say there is any positive impact on the economy of the local area. They will be taking and taking but not giving anything back. There are no benefits to the locals in either jobs or business.”
Another said:
“Most jobs will be specialists brought in from elsewhere and will not go to local people. So the fallacy that this will increase local jobs or give fuel security is just a myth.”
Another said:
“Jobs depend on natural beauty”.
DRILL OR DROP? 