Villagers attack nature trust for link-up with gas company

Moorland Energy announced yesterday it is to work with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to develop a wildlife area on the site of the proposed gas processing facility near Thornton Dale.

Chief Executive Lawrie Erasmus said he was delighted the trust had agreed to help.

He added: "We're a very environmentally conscious organisation and want to do all we can to alleviate the impact of our facility on the existing flora and fauna.

"Our studies have identified the presence of barn owl, bats and badger in the vicinity of our proposed development, as well as great crested newt in a nearby field. Our plans will avoid significant adverse effects on these species.

"Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's experts will work with our own ecology consultants to convert part of our site into a conservation area, once the construction work is completed."

The trust's head of conservation inn the North, David Hargreaves, said: "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Moorland on mitigating the impact of its proposed development.

"The site in question is currently used for growing crops, so what we are proposing to do will create an amenity that will benefit the whole community."

More than 1,000 residents have petitioned against the scheme after a local campaign group, Against Having Sour Gas in Thornton, was launched.

Coun Geoff Acomb, who represents the Thornton Dale ward on Ryedale Council and chairs Thornton Dale Parish Council, said he was bemused adding: "With all due respect it is a bit early in the day to be talking about this.

"The thing hasn't even gone before planning yet so I find it rather strange.

"To put it bluntly it appears to be part of a charm offensive because of the questions being asked about the effect on wildlife. It is Moorlands sweetening the pill.

"We need to establish the criteria of the plant and whether it gets planning permission before we start talking about niceties."