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North Yorkshire council fracking decision a 'declaration of war' North Yorkshire council fracking decision a 'declaration of war'
(about 1 hour later)
Anti-fracking campaigners have accused North Yorkshire council of declaring war on people’s rights to clean air and water after it approved the first operation to frack for shale gas in five years.Anti-fracking campaigners have accused North Yorkshire council of declaring war on people’s rights to clean air and water after it approved the first operation to frack for shale gas in five years.
Related: 'Riding roughshod over democracy': residents on fracking in North Yorkshire
Campaigners opposed to the development outside Kirby Misperton – a village in Ryedale near the North York Moors national park – launched a “people’s declaration” in an attempt to stop the process going ahead. There have also been calls for a judicial review from Friends of the Earth and Frack Free Ryedale, which led the campaign against the application by Third Energy.Campaigners opposed to the development outside Kirby Misperton – a village in Ryedale near the North York Moors national park – launched a “people’s declaration” in an attempt to stop the process going ahead. There have also been calls for a judicial review from Friends of the Earth and Frack Free Ryedale, which led the campaign against the application by Third Energy.
They said in a statement: “We urge and will support the government to develop a balanced long-term energy policy that will achieve our globally agreed climate change targets. Today we resolve to continue to fight to remain free from fracking, to protect our communities, our beautiful countryside, our air and water, and to protect the future of the planet. We ask people across the country to join us by supporting this declaration.”They said in a statement: “We urge and will support the government to develop a balanced long-term energy policy that will achieve our globally agreed climate change targets. Today we resolve to continue to fight to remain free from fracking, to protect our communities, our beautiful countryside, our air and water, and to protect the future of the planet. We ask people across the country to join us by supporting this declaration.”
The council’s decision on Monday was met with chants of “We say no” and “You will be held accountable”.The council’s decision on Monday was met with chants of “We say no” and “You will be held accountable”.
“It is a war, now, they’ve declared on us,” said Sarah Hockey, an anti-fracking campaigner from east Yorkshire. “It’s a war on our human rights to clean air and water so we’ve got to take it like that and keep pushing and pushing and pushing.“It is a war, now, they’ve declared on us,” said Sarah Hockey, an anti-fracking campaigner from east Yorkshire. “It’s a war on our human rights to clean air and water so we’ve got to take it like that and keep pushing and pushing and pushing.
“We need to mobilise people more. We need to inform people more. It may well be, tragically, that when the work starts and something goes wrong like it did before in Lancashire that people will be horrified and say, ‘We can’t have this’.”“We need to mobilise people more. We need to inform people more. It may well be, tragically, that when the work starts and something goes wrong like it did before in Lancashire that people will be horrified and say, ‘We can’t have this’.”
Friends of the Earth said it would consider whether the decision could be challenged. Campaigner Simon Bowens said: “This is an absolute travesty of a decision but the battle is very far from over.”Friends of the Earth said it would consider whether the decision could be challenged. Campaigner Simon Bowens said: “This is an absolute travesty of a decision but the battle is very far from over.”
One of the councillors who voted in favour of the application, Cliff Trotter, said he had received intimidating emails.One of the councillors who voted in favour of the application, Cliff Trotter, said he had received intimidating emails.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Yes, a few. But that’s par for the course, I suppose. But we tried to look to the future, the best for the people of England.”He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Yes, a few. But that’s par for the course, I suppose. But we tried to look to the future, the best for the people of England.”
The Conservative councillor added: “I’m totally against nuclear power stations and if we’ve got the resources under the ground – we’ve got coal there, we’ve got gas there, we’re bringing it round the world to try and run this country with all these things that we’re importing. And we’ve got it on our doorstep. But it’s just how we do it.The Conservative councillor added: “I’m totally against nuclear power stations and if we’ve got the resources under the ground – we’ve got coal there, we’ve got gas there, we’re bringing it round the world to try and run this country with all these things that we’re importing. And we’ve got it on our doorstep. But it’s just how we do it.
“I’m not an expert, I’m not a professor. The number of professors that were talking – we get one saying yes, and one saying no.”“I’m not an expert, I’m not a professor. The number of professors that were talking – we get one saying yes, and one saying no.”
After a two-day meeting at county hall in Northallerton, councillors voted by a majority of seven to four to approve the fracking operation near Pickering.After a two-day meeting at county hall in Northallerton, councillors voted by a majority of seven to four to approve the fracking operation near Pickering.
The decision was made despite thousands of objections from residents and campaigners and will allow fracking in the UK for the first time in five years.The decision was made despite thousands of objections from residents and campaigners and will allow fracking in the UK for the first time in five years.
Fracking was halted on the Fylde coast in 2011 when tests found it was the probable cause of minor earthquakes in the area. Since then, two high-profile applications to frack in Lancashire have been rejected by councillors and are the subject of appeals.Fracking was halted on the Fylde coast in 2011 when tests found it was the probable cause of minor earthquakes in the area. Since then, two high-profile applications to frack in Lancashire have been rejected by councillors and are the subject of appeals.
Planners had recommended the most recent application be approved, despite acknowledging that the majority of representations received in consultation were objections.Planners had recommended the most recent application be approved, despite acknowledging that the majority of representations received in consultation were objections.
Vicky Perkin, a council planning officer, told the committee that of 4,420 individual representations, 4,375 were objections and 36 were in support of the application to frack for shale gas at the firm’s existing well in Kirby Misperton, known as KM8.Vicky Perkin, a council planning officer, told the committee that of 4,420 individual representations, 4,375 were objections and 36 were in support of the application to frack for shale gas at the firm’s existing well in Kirby Misperton, known as KM8.
The government has said it is going “all out for shale” to boost energy security and the economy. But opponents fear fracking – in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture rock and release gas – can cause problems, including water contamination, earthquakes, and noise and traffic pollution.The government has said it is going “all out for shale” to boost energy security and the economy. But opponents fear fracking – in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture rock and release gas – can cause problems, including water contamination, earthquakes, and noise and traffic pollution.
Related: Fracking wins battle in Yorkshire but not the war | Damian Carrington
Environmentalists also say that pursuing new sources of gas – a fossil fuel – is not compatible with efforts to tackle climate change.Environmentalists also say that pursuing new sources of gas – a fossil fuel – is not compatible with efforts to tackle climate change.
Rasik Valand, the chief executive of Third Energy, said work would not start at the site for “months and months” and would initially be an “exploration phase”.Rasik Valand, the chief executive of Third Energy, said work would not start at the site for “months and months” and would initially be an “exploration phase”.
When asked if this was a precedent for further fracking applications to be approved, he said: “We don’t look upon it like that. We are a local company, we see ourselves as a local company. For us, this is about testing what’s in our local area.”When asked if this was a precedent for further fracking applications to be approved, he said: “We don’t look upon it like that. We are a local company, we see ourselves as a local company. For us, this is about testing what’s in our local area.”
Ken Cronin, the chief executive of UK Onshore Oil and Gas, said it was “a very important first step”.Ken Cronin, the chief executive of UK Onshore Oil and Gas, said it was “a very important first step”.
The chief executive of North Yorkshire council, Richard Flinton, said the decision did not mean similar approvals would follow. The chairman of the committee, Peter Sowray, said he knew people would be angry but he was “comfortable” with the decision.The chief executive of North Yorkshire council, Richard Flinton, said the decision did not mean similar approvals would follow. The chairman of the committee, Peter Sowray, said he knew people would be angry but he was “comfortable” with the decision.
A viability test lasting six to eight weeks would initially be carried out at Third Energy’s existing KM8 site. If it was found to be suitable, full-scale shale gas extraction would take place for up to nine years.A viability test lasting six to eight weeks would initially be carried out at Third Energy’s existing KM8 site. If it was found to be suitable, full-scale shale gas extraction would take place for up to nine years.