Summary

  • North Yorkshire County Council have approved Third Energy's application to frack near Kirby Misperton

  • Live updates on Monday 23 May 2016

  1. Ryedale fracking meeting: Protestors make their voice heardpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Ryedale B&B owner Lorraine Allinson questions how many fracking protestors are outside County Hall in Northallerton. This was the response outside:

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  2. Ryedale fracking meeting: 'Fracking not a threat to land or environment'published at 13:43 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Shawn Zablocki, Third Energy operations and maintenance manager, tells the committee he hopes Third Energy will extend an apprenticeship scheme.

    He says a fracking apprenticeship would be important to local workforce and young people.

    Alec Watson, Ryedale farmer, readihng a letter our on behalf of friend and neighbour who's also a farmer.

    He says he doesn't not believe fracking would be a threat to his land or environment. 

  3. Background: Kirby Misperton fracking proposalspublished at 13:36 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    As councillors meet to decide whether proposals to carry out fracking on a site at Kirby Misperton should go ahead, here's a little background to the plans.   

    Proposed fracking site
    • An application, external to frack was submitted by Third Energy to North Yorkshire County Council last year
    • A consultation on the plans received 4,000 representations from objectors
    • report, external to the planning committee earlier this month recommended the project should go ahead
    • The report said Third Energy's plans would help to provide for the nation's energy needs and safeguarding measures would be put in place to protect the environment
    • Last month, the Environment Agency granted the energy firm a permit to frack at the site
    • Campaigners have raised concerns fracking will lead to the pollution of ground water and the possibility of triggering earthquakes
  4. Ryedale fracking meeting gets under way once againpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  5. Ryedale fracking meeting: What we've heard so far on day twopublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Andrew Barton
    BBC Local Live, York

    Back to our main story on BBC Local Live in North Yorkshire today, and it's day two of hearings into plans to start fracking at a site near Kirby Misperton in Ryedale.

    Map

    During today's session so far at County Hall in Northallerton we've heard several voices in favour of the plans. Views included:

    • "Scare stories" about fracking originating from the USA "will not happen here" due to tough regulation
    • Environment Agency permits "should reassure people" over water pollution fears
    • Ground under Kirby Misperton is "seismically benign" and "trains cause larger earth tremors than safe margin Third Energy has in place"
    • Planned rig at Kirby Misperton "lower than highest ride at Flamingo Land" in North Yorkshire
    • "No significant disturbance from noise" if fracking gets the go-ahead at Kirby Misperton

    The meeting's currently on lunch break, but is expected to get under way once again at about 13:30 and we'll bring you all the latest from there through the afternoon.

  6. Easingwold peanut curry death: Takeaway owner Mohammed Zaman guiltypublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 23 May 2016
    Breaking

    Away from the fracking decision meeting, we've got some breaking news:

    A North Yorkshire restaurant owner has just been found guilty of manslaughter after a customer died from an allergic reaction to peanuts.

    Paul Wilson, 38, suffered a severe reaction after buying a curry from the Indian Garden in Easingwold. 

    A jury found Mohammed Zaman, 52, of Aylesham Court, Huntington, guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Teesside Crown Court. 

  7. Ryedale fracking meeting: Break for lunchpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  8. Ryedale fracking meeting: Final speakers before lunch breakpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Next, at the meeting to discuss proposals to start fracking near Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, a safety environmental advisor has addressed the committee. 

    He showed us this slide which explains where and how we are told the waste will be disposed: 

    Waste treatment graphic

    The committee then heard audio from a business consultancy. The speaker said small and medium businesses in the area can benefit from the supply chain fracking would bring. 

    This was followed by the last speaker before lunch, Ian Gair, commercial manager at Third Energy, who wasn't tabled to appear but who said he felt he needed to be there.

  9. Fracking in Kirby Misperton would have 'no significant effect on newts, bats and barn owls'published at 12:55

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Jo Atkinson is an ecologist with a global engineering and environmental consultancy.

    She's addressed councilors on concerns heard by them on Friday about the impact on Great Crested Newts, bats and barn owls in the area of Kirby Misperton where fracking will take place if approval is granted today.

    She told North Yorkshire councillors "a detailed and robust ecological impact assessment has been completed" and that ecology in the area would experience "no significant effect".

  10. Ryedale fracking meeting latest: 'No significant disturbance from noise'published at 12:44 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Andrew Corkill, from the consultancy that carried out noise assessments ahead of the planning committee meeting today, has told North Yorkshire councillors there will be "no significant disturbance from noise" if fracking gets the go-ahead at Kirby Misperton.

    Mr Corkhill said that noise levels will rise during the initial six weeks of fracking and well testing for "five hours on five occasions in that period".

    The committee were then shown an image which shows the predicted fracking noise levels in the area and told that after the initial six weeks of hydraulic fracturing, noise levels will return to how they are now. 

    Noise map
  11. Ryedale fracking meeting: Protestors outside County Hallpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  12. Kirby Misperton drilling rig 'lower than highest ride at Flamingoland'published at 12:27 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Councillors at County Hall in Northallerton continue to hear speakers in support of plans to start fracking at a site near Kirby Misperton in Ryedale.

    Landscape expert Nigel Rockliffe has shown the committee how the height of the planned rig at Kirby Misperton would compare with the highest ride at Flamingoland in North Yorkshire.

    Landscape visual
  13. Ryedale fracking meeting: 'Leakages can be eliminated'published at 12:21 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Doctor Phil Ham, from Envireau Water, the company working with Third Energy for several years, told the committee the way the Kirby Misperton well has been tested and will be regulated means "any leakages can be eliminated"  

    He ended his address by saying the water aspects to the application have been "thoroughly assessed and considered".

  14. Watch: Kirby Misperton fracking meeting livepublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Councillors in North Yorkshire are meeting again today to continue considering plans to start fracking on a site near Kirby Misperton.

    The County Council's planning committee is meeting at County Hall in Northallerton

    You can view the agenda and the report for the meeting here, external and you can watch proceedings as they happen right here:

    This YouTube post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on YouTube
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. YouTube content may contain adverts.
    Skip youtube video

    Allow YouTube content?

    This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. YouTube content may contain adverts.
    End of youtube video
  15. 'Trains cause larger tremors than fracking would' - Third Energy geologistpublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    More from a packed meeting room at County Hall in Northallerton as speakers give their support to the proposed start of fracking near Kirby Misperton, Ryedale.

    Andy Mortimer is the sub-surface director for Third Energy. He's also a geologist, and for several years he studied the same rocks as those underground at Kirby Misperton, from which the shale gas would be extracted.

    He's reassured the committee over fears raised by objectors about the possibility of fracking causing earthquakes. 

    He says the ground under Kirby Misperton is "seismically benign" and that "trains cause larger earth tremors than the safe margin Third Energy have in place".

  16. Ryedale fracking meeting: Packed house at County Hall in Northallertonpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Phil Bodmer
    Journalist, BBC Look North

    This is the scene at County Hall in Northallerton as speakers in favour of fracking near Kirby Misperton have their say. As you can see, the meeting room is packed:

    Meeting room

    This morning, we've been hearing lots of technical detail about effects of seismic activity with regards to the fracking application in Ryedale. This is the paperwork:

    Documents
  17. Ryedale fracking meeting: Horns sounded as protests continue in Northallertonpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    It sounds like there are anti-fracking protestors back outside the front of County Hall.

    From inside the meeting room I can definitely hear horns beeping from inside.

    These are just some of the scenes from outside the meeting this morning as caught on camera:

    Fracking protestImage source, PA
    Fracking protestImage source, PA
  18. Ryedale fracking meeting: HSE 'no concerns' over Kirby Misperton planspublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Jonathan Foster speaks next at County Hall in Northallerton in support of plans to start fracking in Ryedale.

    He's the owner of a planning safety consultancy based in North Yorkshire. He says he's a dad of three and works in farming, fishing and  tourism .

    Addressing the issue of safety, he says the Health and Safety Executive "raised no concerns" over the plans.

    And on the issue of pollution he says: "Environment Agency permits should reassure people."

  19. Ryedale fracking meeting: 'Scare stories' from US criticisedpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 23 May 2016

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    Next speaker up at at County Hall in Northallerton discussing proposals to start fracking in Ryedale is Ken Cronin from UK Onshore Oil and Gas. 

    Mr Cronin says the community should "take comfort" that four regulators look at all aspects of the business and have an extremely good record in Yorkshire. 

    His response to "scare stories" from USA are that they would "not happen here" due to tough regulation.

  20. John Dewar from Third Energy finishes address by quoting Churchillpublished at 11:17

    Sarah Urwin
    BBC Radio York News

    John Dewar, the operations director of Third Energy, told councillors at County Hall in Northallerton that fears about fractures in pipes causing leaks are the "thickness of your finger" and that they "take place hundreds of metres underground". 

    Mr Dewar also said he thought very few few residents speaking on Friday who referred to their application "had actually read it".  

    There were shouts from the crowd outside as Mr Dewar asked whether "objectors can really claim they have support from North Yorkshire.

    Mr Dewar finished with a quote from Sir Winston Churchill: "The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end there it is."