Village gas rig plan formally rejected by council

Plans to build a gas drilling rig in a North Yorkshire village have been formally rejected by councillors.

Europa Oil & Gas had proposed a 125ft (38m) rig in Burniston, which would have used a proppant squeeze method to extract the gas.

The technique has been likened to "small-scale fracking" but is allowed under current legislation.

Following the government's decision not to intervene in the decision, North Yorkshire Council issued a refusal notice on Friday.

In April, a five-hour meeting at Scarborough Town Hall heard councillors say they were "minded to refuse" the scheme, with all but one voting to reject proposals.

However, the preliminary refusal needed to be reviewed by the secretary of state before a final ruling was made.

A government spokesperson has since said it was a "decision for the local authority", allowing the council to issue the refusal notice.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Tony Bosworth said: "We're delighted this damaging scheme has now been formally rejected.

"Now we need the government to act. Ministers are expected to outline plans soon to 'ban fracking for good'.

"If they are serious about protecting communities from the scourge of fracking, this ban must include all forms of the practice, including proppant squeeze."

Following the earlier vote by councillors, Europa's CEO said the firm would appeal against the decision and felt "confident" about winning.

"We need to be concerned about the environment, but if we don't produce domestic gas, we buy it from overseas," William Holland said.

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