Fracking decision: North Yorkshire gives green light to controversial shale gas plan

North Yorkshire County Council has green-lit plans for fracking to take place in North Yorkshire for the first time.

The decision means comes after a mammoth two-day planning committee meeting, held in Northallerton, and gives Third Energy permission to extract shale gas from a site in Kirkby Misperton, near Pickering.

Gas can now be extracted at the site using a technique known as hydraulic fracturing – othewise know as fracking – in which a mix of water and chemicals is pumped deep into a the earth in order to break rock apart, releasing gas trapped inside.

Opponents of fracking claim the process is to blame for water contamination where it has been used in the US, and has been cited as the cause of minor earthquakes. Those who argue in favour of the technique claim it is safe and could provide the UK with a energy security for decades to come.

More than 100 speakers were heard throughout the course of the meeting and as many as 4,420 letters and emails submitted for consideration by councillors – with only 36 found to be in support of the scheme.

In the end, seven councillors voted in favour of fracking, outnumbering the four who voted against.

NYCC, for its part, said its planning committee was satisfied that in this particular application, applicants had done enough to allow the prospect of fracking while taking measures to ensure protection of the natural environment and the safety of local residents.

Richard Flinton, NYCC’s chief executiv added, "This has been a very difficult decision for the Council to make and we know it is a difficult decision for the people of this county

"We are proud of our beautiful county which attracts so many visitors and maintains a thriving tourism industry. We have no intention of jeopardising those qualities and our rural industries and livelihoods. For that reason the planning conditions must be fully discharged and monitored. In this case there has already been drilling for gas on this site over many years. The decision taken today does not have a bearing on future decisions. Each application of this nature will be decided upon based on its own merits."

Rasik Valand, chief executive of Third Energy said, "We will have to deliver on our commitment, made to the committee and to the people of Ryedale, to undertake this operation safely and without impacting on the local environment."

Campaign group Frack Off countered, "These plans could pave the way for thousands of fracking wells to spread across Yorkshire and many other parts of the country if not stopped.

"Impacts, including pipelines, air pollution and waste disposal will spread far beyond the areas being drilled.