Controversial gas rig plans refused in Scarborough

​Following fierce opposition from local residents, politicians, and campaigners, ​Europa Oil & Gas’ proposal to install a 125ft (38m) rig in the village of Burniston, close to the North York Moors National Park has been stalled.

​Hundreds of people demonstrated against the plan outside Scarborough Town Hall on Friday, April 24, and following an almost five-hour meeting, councillors said they were ‘minded to refuse’ the scheme for a temporary wellsite

​The preliminary refusal is subject to the Government’s appraisal of Europa’s environmental screening and is dependent on whether the Secretary of State requests further details, and could mean the application returns to the planning committee.

View East Of Proposed Burniston Drilling Site. Courtesy Nyc

​Europa Oil & Gas CEO William Holland said his company would appeal the decision and felt “confident” about winning.

​Residents and activists from across Yorkshire had travelled to the demonstration to voice their concerns, including fears about environmental pollution, cliff stability, noise and light pollution, and impacts on groundwater.

​North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee voted to reject the application, with all but one voting to refuse, based on:

* Heritage coast and landscape harm, and concerns that the temporary nature of the plan would not mitigate the harm and would be contrary to council policies
* Proximity to residential properties and vibration, noise and disturbance, and 24/7 operation of the site
* The site, height, and lighting would impact the scenic beauty of the North York Moors National Park
* Concerns that the impact on tourism and economic benefits had not been demonstrated
* Conflict with the council’s climate commitments and objectives

Local ward councillor Derek Bastiman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after the meeting: “I’m absolutely over the moon with the results.

​“It’s been a long afternoon, but councillors considered everything, and they explored every avenue. I was very pleased that they listened to us, to me as the divisional member, and the three parish councils I represented.”

​More than 1,600 objections were submitted by residents, local MP Alison Hume, parish councils including Burniston, Cloughton, Newby & Scalby and Scarborough town councils, and Friends of the Earth, among others.

Wellbore Illustration. Europa Oil And Gas

​Planning officers said the scheme would not have an unacceptable impact on residential amenity or tourism, and that short-term impacts could be mitigated. They also said they were satisfied that the use of proppant squeeze did not justify refusal of the application.

​The proppant squeeze method has been likened to “small-scale fracking” and is allowed under current legislation.

​At the meeting, half a dozen public speakers opposed the scheme, including Professor Chris Garforth of Frack Free Coastal Communities, who said: “Gas from North Yorkshire will not bring lower prices, because gas from here may well be exported. Energy security comes from speeding up a transition to renewable energy.

​He added: “Visitors come here for the tranquillity of the heritage coast, which this development will blight.”

​William Holland, the CEO of Europa Oil & Gas, told the committee: “Developments of this nature can be carried out responsibly and we are committed to working constructively with the local community throughout.

​“The development is limited, and it does not determine any future development. Let’s be clear, if we are successful, we will make another application and it will create jobs and support the UK economy, it will also create gas that will be consumed here in Yorkshire.

​“Let’s say yes to Yorkshire gas for Yorkshire people.”

Europa Ceo Wiliam Holland. Courtesy Numminen, Ldrs

​Cllr Andy Brown raised concerns about odours from gas burning “which is permitted for 15 weeks” and highlighted “a shrouded ground flare would be sited in the northern corner of the site, which will be 12m in height, with all produced gas during the testing period disposed of by burning the gas in the flare”.

​Planning officers said they believed that “odorous releases of gas would be minimal”.

​Councillors also raised concerns about the impact of lighting on the North York Moors National Park’s dark skies policy.

Drilling Phase Light Spill.

​Speaking at the meeting Cllr Andrew Timothy said he was “concerned with public safety impacts and that should be paramount in everything we do.

Anti Gas Rig Demo Scarborough Town Hall. Courtesy Numminen,, Ldrs.

​He said: “I don’t believe its possible for us to know if its safe or not and as such I can’t support this application.”

​Cllr Arnold Warneken told the committee: “I do not feel the evidence is sufficient to support the safety of residents.”

​However, speaking to the LDRS after the meeting, Europa’s CEO Mr Holland said he was not surprised by the committee’s decision.

​“I’m quite confident that the grounds that it’s been rejected on, when we go to appeal, and we will appeal it, the decision will be overturned at appeal.”

​Commenting on the environmental concerns raised by residents, he added: “We need to be concerned about the environment, but if we don’t produce domestic gas, we buy it from overseas. 77 per cent of people in Yorkshire consume gas for their heating, so there’s a tremendous consumption of gas in Yorkshire.”