Scarborough and Whitby MP Calls for Fracking Debate

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume has urged the government to allocate parliamentary time for a debate on fracking as Burniston residents wait for a decision on a proposed drilling project in the village.

The proposed "proppant squeeze" project at Burniston, near the North York Moors national park, currently falls outside the existing fracking moratorium.

The call for the parliamentary debate comes as residents in Burniston anxiously await a decision from North Yorkshire Council regarding Europa Oil and Gas’s application for the small-scale gas drilling operation.

Ms. Hume raised the issue in the House of Commons, highlighting that her constituents are "understandably impatient" to see proppant squeeze included in a future ban on fracking.

"Residents in Burniston are waiting anxiously to see whether North Yorkshire council will approve Europa Oil and Gas’s application to undertake small-scale fracking on the edge of the North York Moors national park.

The technique, known as a proppant squeeze, is not currently included in the moratorium on fracking, but my constituents are understandably impatient to see it included in a future ban.

Will the Leader of the House find Government time for a debate on fracking?"

Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, acknowledged the government's commitment to "banning fracking for good" and confirmed that the regulation of proppant squeezes is "keeping under review".

"As my hon. Friend knows, and as she rightly points out, this Government are committed to banning fracking for good. That is what many Members want to see. We are keeping under review the regulation of proppant squeezes, which she describes, because those are not bound by the fracking regulations, and I will ensure that she and the House are updated."

The proposed drilling site, covering 1.2 hectares of land at Burniston Mill, is for exploratory purposes to determine if gas can be commercially extracted. The technique Europa Oil and Gas intends to use, known as proppant-squeezing, involves a smaller volume of fluid compared to the process commonly known as 'fracking' (hydraulic fracturing). While there is a moratorium on fracking, proppant squeeze remains a legal technique, subject to the necessary approvals.

Ms. Hume has publicly stated her opposition to "fracking in all its forms including proppant squeeze". In May 2025, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby met with representatives of Europa Oil and Gas at the proposed Burniston site to learn more about their plans. Despite her opposition, Ms. Hume stressed that her visit was part of her responsibility as an MP to "better understand" the details of Europa’s intentions, and "should not be interpreted as a sign she agrees with them".

During the visit, Ms. Hume introduced Europa officials to local resident Steve Illingworth, who lives 200m from the proposed site, enabling them to hear firsthand why he opposes the plan. Ms. Hume emphasized that it is her job to ensure Europa understands "the depth of feeling of [her] constituents against the proposals to turn a beautiful pocket of countryside on the edge of the NY Moors into a mini fracking site".

Will Holland, Europa Gas and Oil’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, expressed gratitude for Ms. Hume’s visit, noting it provided an opportunity to address questions on the project’s impact on local residents and the area. Mr. Holland stated that the "pre-existing industrial nature of the site, which is adjacent to a major A road, lends itself to a development of this type". He also highlighted that while UK gas demand is decreasing, domestic production is decreasing four times faster, leading to a rise in UK energy net import dependency to 43% in 2024 from under 30% in 2020.

The planning application, set to be considered by North Yorkshire Council, includes an estimate of over 1,000 heavy goods vehicle movements during the exploration phase. Both Burniston Parish Council and Newby and Scalby Town Council have voted unanimously against Europa’s plans, with the latter "strongly urging" North Yorkshire Council to reject the application. The North York Moors National Park Authority, however, has accepted a recommendation from its officers not to lodge an objection.