Gas Company Launches Appeal Against Scarborough Drilling Rig Refusal

Europa Oil & Gas has officially appealed the council's decision to reject its controversial plans for a 125ft gas drilling rig in the village of Burniston near Scarborough.

The oil and gas company behind plans for a controversial gas drilling rig near Scarborough has launched its appeal against the council’s refusal of its plans.

Europa Oil & Gas’ proposal to install a 125ft (38m) rig in the village of Burniston, close to the North York Moors National Park, was refused by North Yorkshire councillors in April and the company has now lodged an appeal against the decision.

The appeal will now be determined by the Planning Inspectorate.

The scheme for a temporary wellsite seeking to explore for gas has been opposed by residents, campaigners and politicians due to concerns about impacts on the local environment, tourism, and climate commitments.

However, Europa has said the scheme would create local employment and that residents would not notice the presence of the drilling rig.

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

Friends of the Earth campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

“This appeal will only create more concern and uncertainty for local residents who are understandably worried about the impact of fracking on their community and environment.

“Now we need the government to act. Proppant squeeze is simply fracking by another name. Ministers must deliver on their promise to ban fracking for good by ensuring it includes all forms of this technique – including proppant squeeze. Failure to do so will leave many more communities at risk.”

William Holland, the CEO of Europa Oil & Gas, previously said:

“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.

Local group Frack Free Coastal Communities has vowed to fight on.

Professor Chris Garforth, chair of the campaign’s steering group, said:

“This comes as no surprise. Within minutes of the planning decision, Europa’s chief executive Will Holland boasted he was confident it would be overturned on appeal.

“That confidence doesn’t change the facts. North Yorkshire’s strategic planning committee received almost 1,600 objections and reviewed all the evidence before voting against the application.”

"They gave five robust reasons why the proposals were contrary to planning policy and regulations. The volumes of fracking fluid Europa proposes for the site remain greater than those that caused a 2.9 magnitude earthquake at Preston New Road in 2019. Our cliffs remain unstable. And we remain in a climate emergency in which opening new fossil fuel sites makes no sense, however they're dressed up."

"We will study Europa's grounds of appeal carefully and respond more fully in the coming days. Meanwhile, our message to Europa, and to the Planning Inspectorate, is the same as it was on 24 April: this community said no for good reason, and nothing in an appeal can change that."

At April’s planning meeting, councillors voted to reject the application 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

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (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 on which it’s been rejected, 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.”

The Government has pledged to “ban fracking for good” and is expected to outline its plans for doing so when it publishes its Energy Independence Bill, which is expected later in the year.

However, it is not clear whether small-scale fracking would be included in the ban.

Alison Hume, Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said she was “very frustrated with the Government” over the issue and that she is pushing for the upcoming legislation to explicitly cover lower-volume extraction methods.

If Europa’s appeal succeeds, the company would be able to establish a temporary exploration wellsite, although any future production proposals would require separate consent.