Park committee advised to approve potash mine plan

York Potash Ltd is set to win the go-ahead on Thursday for a temporary exploratory potash borehole and associated plant, a drilling rig up to 33 metres high, at Raw Pasture Bank, Hawskey and Pasture Field Lane, Howlett Hall, Ugglebarnby.

Approval is recommended to create a borehole and a drilling rig.

But while planning officers are recommending the green light for the scheme, there is opposition from some local residents, with one saying “a heavy industry mine could destroy the countryside of the National Park and many of the existing jobs it supports”.

Another has complained of “noise and extensive lorry journeys in villages in the area which could cause problems for local traffic and walkers”.

Director of planning Chris France said: “The price and demand for potash appears to be rising and attention is now being focused on the other parts of the North Yorkshire coast potash reserves with a view to assessing whether the deposits are commercially viable.”

He said the new applications were likely to be among 10 being submitted by York Potash to help the company assess the presence, quality and commercial viability of the potash and polyhalite reserves which are believed to lie beneath the coastal plain south of Whitby, possibly as far as Scarborough.

It is proposed to establish a compound some 60 metres by 90 metres by scraping off the soil, creating a fenced, bounded working area and establishing water tanks and staff cabins, but most notably the 33 metre drilling rig.

The company is planning to operate two rigs at any time, said Mr France.

The plan is to carry out the work between July and August this year.

“Some concerns have been raised by tourism operators in the area that having the rig and site visible on a popular tourism route during the busiest time of the year will result in a knock-on adverse impact for return visitors next year,” Mr France said.

“Officers sympathise with the concerns although no factual evidence has been put forward to demonstrate this is the case.”