Councillors urged to impose a ‘ban’ on fracking in Ryedale

Ryedale councillors John Clark and Joy Andrews will ask colleagues to back a motion that attempts to force the authority to object to plans for fracking at Kirby Misperton.

Third Energy, the company behind the application, welcomed the opportunity to debate its proposals and pointed to evidence that fracking is safe.

The fracking application is a matter that will be decided by North Yorkshire Council but as the district concerned Ryedale will be asked for its views.

The council motion says: “RDC has no policy on fracking. The eyes of the country and the world will be watching with interest in the decision making process and we have yet to debate this issue.

“It is complex and of great significance for the future of Ryedale at many levels not least its economy, jobs, health and potential costs to the council.”

The motion calls for a five-year moratorium on fracking based on “present information” with the council reconsidering “when sufficient information becomes available”.

Authorities across Yorkshire have previously considered motions to ‘ban’ fracking but council planning officers have repeatedly advised that they do not have the authority and to adopt such a position would leave open their decisions to legal challenges.

The attempt by Ryedale councillors to make opposition to fracking formal council policy is particularly important because the district is the focus of the first attempt to frack in Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council is consulting on the proposal before taking a formal decision.

The Government has told councils they should take decisions over fracking within 16 weeks of applications being lodged.

A Frack Free Ryedale campaign spokesman said: “Over 80 per cent of peer-reviewed literature on the health impacts on fracking have been published in the last three years - after the reports from the Royal Society and Public Health England that the government commissioned in 2012.

“Of the new studies, 88 per cent show significant risks or impacts on health, 88 per cent show risks and impacts on air quality and 66 per cent indicate risks to water quality.

“Bearing this in mind, its no surprise that the majority of Ryedale residents would support the RDC motion for a five-year moratorium on fracking in Ryedale, and approval of this on Thursday would be very welcome throughout the community.”

Opponents of fracking have also seized on comments from Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake suggesting he wants to see a minimum distance of a mile between fracking sites and homes.

A Third Energy spokesman said: “We welcome any informed discussion of our proposals for our site at Kirby Misperton. Gas has been produced for over two decades at this site, discretely and safely, and we look forward to continuing to operate in the Ryedale area.

“Reports by Public Health England, the Royal Society and many other responsible bodies conclude that the risks from hydraulic fracturing can be managed in a property regulated regime.”