Burniston gas drilling rig: Europa 'confident' of winning planning appeal as statement issued
The company behind plans for a controversial gas drilling rig near Scarborough which was knocked back by councillors last week has said it is “confident” it will win an appeal against the decision.
Following fierce opposition from local residents, politicians, and campaigners, Europa Oil & Gas’ proposal to install a 125ft (38m) rig in the village of Burniston, close to the North York Moors National Park has been stalled.
Hundreds of people demonstrated against the plan outside Scarborough Town Hall on Friday and following an almost five-hour meeting, councillors said they were ‘minded to refuse’ the scheme for a temporary wellsite.
The preliminary refusal is subject to the Government’s appraisal of Europa’s environmental screening and is dependent on whether the Secretary of State requests further details, and could mean the application returns to the planning committee.
Europa Oil & Gas has now issued a statement to the London Stock Exchange saying it intends to appeal the decision and highlighted the success of an existing development in Wressle in East Riding.
The statement said: “A final recommendation is pending a decision by the Secretary of State over the need for an environmental screening assessment to be carried out relating to the proposal, despite the company having already opted to voluntarily complete and submit an environmental screening assessment as part of the planning application.
“The company is disappointed with the committee's decision, which directly contradicts the NYC planning officers' endorsement of its plans for the well after an exhaustive review process, and Europa intends to appeal the decision once the final recommendation has been delivered.
“The company is confident that on appeal the planning permission will be approved.
"Following implementation of the Wressle development, which was approved on appeal, the initial local opposition and concern has disappeared and the local community is now highly supportive.
"This clearly demonstrates how a well-run operation can be conducted without negatively impacting local amenity and how the community can realise a material benefit.”
William Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Europa, said: "Our planning application for the well at Burniston was underpinned by 13 expert reports and exhaustive preparatory work.
"It was also recommended by the council's own planning department. We shall appeal the decision and remain of the view that the well can be safely and efficiently delivered and is in the best interests both of the local community and the country."
North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee voted to reject the Burniston application, with all but one voting to refuse, based on several factors including conflict with the council’s climate commitments and objectives and concerns that the site “would impact the scenic beauty of the North York Moors National Park”.
More than 1,600 objections were submitted by residents, local MP Alison Hume, parish councils including Burniston, Cloughton, Newby & Scalby and Scarborough town councils, and Friends of the Earth, among others.
Planning officers said the scheme would not have an unacceptable impact on residential amenity or tourism, and that short-term impacts could be mitigated. They also said they were satisfied that the use of proppant squeeze did not justify refusal of the application. The proppant squeeze method has been likened to “small-scale fracking” and is allowed under current legislation.