Developers hit out as gas plant opposed

North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee voted to oppose the Ryedale Gas Project, nearly 18 months after plans were originally submitted by Moorland Energy. The final decision over the bid to create one of the biggest operations of its kind in the north of England – which would cost well over £50m due to the delays – will be made following a three-week public inquiry.

But Moorland Energy’s chief executive, Lawrie Erasmus, claimed the council’s decision had been swayed by misleading information and added: “We are disappointed but not surprised. We believe the report to councillors was unbalanced and misleading but we are confident of the robustness of our case and look forward to the full facts being presented to the public inquiry in October.”

The plans, originally submitted to County Hall in April last year, have sparked a wave of opposition amid fears some of Yorkshire’s finest countryside will be ruined. The well-head would be within the confines of the North York Moors National Park, while the main gas plant would be outside, near Thornton-le-Dale.

But the council’s executive member for planning services, Coun Gareth Dadd, maintained that members were fully informed before making the decision. He added: “The professionalism of our officers throughout the whole process has never been in question. To rush through any kind of decision on these proposals would not do the scheme justice.”

The North York Moors National Park Authority and Ryedale District Council have already voiced their opposition to the proposals.