Company Behind Controversial Gas Rig Plan Vows To Appeal Against Refusal

Campaigners and politicians have celebrated the preliminary refusal of a controversial gas drilling rig near Scarborough, but developer Europa Oil & Gas has vowed to appeal the decision.

Campaigners and politicians have welcomed the refusal of plans for a gas drilling rig near Scarborough, while the company behind the scheme has said it will lodge an appeal.

Following 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 was stalled at a meeting on Friday, April 24.

Following an almost five-hour meeting in Scarborough, councillors said they were ‘minded to refuse’ the scheme for a temporary wellsite that sought to explore for gas.

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.

Ginnie Shaw, of Frack Free York and Villages, joined hundreds of campaigners and residents at a demonstration before the meeting started on Friday.

Commenting on the turnout at the demonstration, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):

“It shows the strength of opposition to fracking at Burniston.

“Two friends of mine in their 80s who live in Scarborough came to support this lobby, there’s a number of us from York, and there are people from across Yorkshire. People are here who really believe that fracking is not a good thing and who oppose it.”

Planning officers had recommended approval of the application and 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.

Helen, a Scarborough resident who also participated in Friday’s demonstration, said:

“We’re here because we don’t agree with fracking being practised at all, let alone in a rural area that seems quite sacrificial to central government.

“This is massively regressive and it shouldn’t even be considered. I think it’s shocking that it is being considered in 2026 – it’s just not good enough.”

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.”

The company has said the scheme would be beneficial to the local economy and that there is no ‘loophole’ in the moratorium on fracking.

Speaking on Monday, April 27, Green Party councillor Andy Brown, a member of the strategic planning committee, said:

”It was really pleasing that councillors from so many different parties agreed that this development was an industrialisation of a heritage coastline – one that was against many North Yorkshire and national policies.

“The Greens may have proposed rejection at the meeting, but representatives of all parties present voted that this was the wrong form of development for our community. The strength and importance of such cross-party collaborative decision making should never be underestimated.”

Alison Hume, the Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, told demonstrators on Friday that she was “as frustrated” as residents that the Government “hasn’t stepped in and put an end to this application”.

“This is nonsense. I am continuing to lobby the Government on your behalf, and I stand with you. There will be no fracking in Burniston.”

Local Conservative ward councillor Derek Bastiman told the LDRS after the meeting:

“I’m absolutely over the moon with the result.

“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.”

Europa’s CEO, Mr Holland, added after the meeting:

“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.”