A drop in event is being held in the village today as councillors seek assurances from the government on local decision making.
Burniston Parish Council is actively seeking the views of local residents regarding a planning application for an exploratory gas drilling rig at Mill Yard, Coastal Rd, Burniston. The application, expected to be submitted to North Yorkshire Council imminently by Europa Oil & Gas, has prompted the Parish Council to gather community feedback to inform its response to the council.
A public consultation is being held on February 28th at Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall from 2pm to 6pm, where residents are invited to share their opinions on the proposal, whether in favour, against, or unsure. The Parish Council has emphasized the importance of including the views of the people it represents in its response to North Yorkshire Council.
Europa Oil & Gas's plans involve a "proppant squeeze" or hydraulic fracking project to assess the commercial viability of gas extraction in the area. The project would include the construction of a 30m high derrick.
The potential impacts of the project have raised concerns among locals and politicians. These concerns include:
- Climate and environmental impacts
- Increased HGV traffic
- Potential impacts on house prices
According to Europa Oil & Gas, the project could last up to 17 weeks and involve over 1,000 HGV movements. If the gas reserves are deemed financially viable, the company may seek approval to drill up to five wells for extraction over a decade or more.
Despite the company's assertion that "no one's going to notice" due to the "small volume" of the scheme, the project has faced political resistance.
Local Councillor Rich Maw raised concerns about local consent for projects like fracking, questioning whether the current moratorium definition allows hydraulic fracturing to be imposed on communities even if refused by a local government planning committee.
Speaking at a full meeting of North Yorkshire Council this week, Councillor Maw called on council leaders to seek assurances from the government that no hydraulic fracturing operation, including propent squeeze, would commence without consent from the local Council.
In response, North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les noted that he has written to the government regarding "the differing views as to the accuracy of the definitions that are used in the current fracking moratorium".
Burniston Parish Council is encouraging residents to submit their views to clerk@burnistonparishcouncil.gov.uk, including their residency status and reasons for their position. The council has also reminded residents to respond individually via the North Yorkshire Council planning portal once the application is formally received and the public comment process is open.
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