MP vows to keep fighting gas drill plan after appeal

An MP has vowed to continue fighting plans for a gas drilling rig on the edge of the North York Moors after the developer lodged an appeal.

Europa Oil & Gas is challenging North Yorkshire Council's recent decision to reject plans for a temporary exploration wellsite in Burniston, with the appeal set to be considered by the Planning Inspectorate.

Alison Hume, Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said she would continue pressing ministers over concerns upcoming government legislation connected to gas extraction may not go far enough, adding: "If I need to lay an amendment, I will."

Europa's CEO William Holland previously explained that these developments "can be carried out responsibly".

The firm was "committed to working constructively with the local community throughout", he added.

The company wants to build a temporary 125ft (38m) drilling rig to explore the potential to extract gas from the site near Scarborough.

Councillors rejected the application in May, citing concerns about its impact on the landscape, tourism, nearby residents and the authority's climate objectives.

Reacting to the appeal, the MP said the situation was "enormously frustrating".

The government has pledged to ban fracking permanently in England, but uncertainty remains over whether future legislation would cover lower-volume extraction methods such as the "proppant squeeze" technique proposed for Burniston.

Campaigners have argued the method amounts to a form of small-scale fracking and should be included in any ban.

"I've been pressing the government to close the loophole for fracking and I will continue to press them," Hume said.

Asked about the prospect of the project going ahead, the MP said: "We are not having fracking in Burniston. It is not happening."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Burniston application has attracted more than 1,600 objections from residents, campaigners and environmental groups.

Confirming its appeal, Europa said the council's decision went against the recommendation of its own planning officers.

The company said officers had "rigorously" assessed the application and considered reports from 13 independent experts, all of whom supported the plans.

Europa said its proposal complied with existing legislation and has previously argued the scheme could create jobs, support the local economy and help increase supplies of domestically produced gas.

If the appeal is upheld, Europa would be able to set up the temporary exploration site in Burniston.

However, any move to extract gas commercially would require further approvals.

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