North Yorkshire Campaigners Lose Fracking Challenge

20 December 2016, 10:29 | Updated: 20 December 2016, 10:39

Campaigners have lost their landmark High Court challenge against one of the first planning applications to carry out fracking in North Yorkshire.

Residents from the village of Kirby Misperton, Rydale, were supported by environmental group Friends of the Earth in a bid to block a decision to allow hydraulic fracturing near their homes.

But Mrs Justice Lang, sitting in London, dismissed their application for judicial review in a decision which allows fracking to go ahead.

One of the lead campaigners, Reverend Jackie Cray, said: 
"I'm obviously disappointed in the verdict but it doesn't end here. There is no support in North Yorkshire for this risky industry.''

Fracking company Third Energy was granted permission by North Yorkshire County Council in May 2016 to frack just a quarter of a mile from Mrs Cray's home.

She said: 
"We will continue to campaign on behalf of local communities for the sake of our children and their children's health and wellbeing, and the long-term prosperity of our area.

"We are not prepared for Ryedale to become a sacrifice zone for the sake of industry greed.''

Donna Hume, Friends of the Earth campaigner, said: 
"The High Court has ruled that fracking can go ahead in beautiful Yorkshire, and we must rise to this latest challenge.

"The judge found that North Yorkshire councillors had assessed the impacts of climate change.

"But we know that climate change was barely mentioned at that crucial council meeting where the decision to allow fracking was taken, and more damningly, that councillors didn't have the information about the total carbon emissions produced from the fracking project.

"Residents have said they will continue to do everything they can to peacefully prevent Barclays' owned Third Energy from fracking, and we will be standing with them.''