Scarborough and Whitby MP Welcomes Government Intervention in Burniston Gas Rig Proposal

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume says she was delighted when the government intervened to postpone the planning process for a proposed gas drilling rig in Burniston.

The move came after Ms Hume and various local parties requested that the application for the 38m rig be "called in" for national review, just days before North Yorkshire Council was due to decide on the controversial project.

The strategic planning committee meeting, originally scheduled to take place at Scarborough Town Hall, was put on hold after the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government requested that no decision be issued while the Secretary of State, Steve Reed, considers the requests. The proposal by Europa Oil & Gas has faced significant opposition, with over 1,600 local objections citing environmental concerns regarding the "proppant squeeze" extraction method, which critics label as a form of fracking.

Speaking about the timing of the intervention and the relief it has brought to the local community, Ms Hume said:

"It was a bit last minute actually. I think I was writing the follow-up letter to Steve Reid who's the secretary of state for housing and communities on the morning before I went in for my surgery.

But yes, it was really good. I was really pleased that they wrote to North Yorkshire Council and said, 'Look, let's put this on hold. Let's put the planning decision on hold while we look into it.' I think people in Burniston are breathing a sigh of relief."

The MP has been a vocal opponent of the scheme, aligning with many residents across Scarborough and Whitby who are against the drill going ahead. She has consistently argued that the application should be considered under the most up-to-date guidance, specifically in light of the government’s consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, which does not close until March.

Ms Hume remains optimistic that the delay is a step toward a permanent rejection of the plans, stating:

"It's not over, but I'm absolutely convinced, as I've always said, that there's going to be no fracking in Burniston, and I can't see how that will sit with a government ambition to move to clean energy and have no more onshore drilling. So, I think fingers crossed we're moving in the right direction, but I know that it is really stressful for those in the village.

And it's actually a national issue as well. Thousands of people signed the petition against it. So, I know that everybody who cares about our planet and our environment is against fracking."

The decision to delay has not been welcomed by Europa Oil & Gas, who described the postponement as "unnecessarily" disappointing. A spokesperson for the company asserted that their application followed extensive independent assessments to ensure the local community and environment would not be adversely impacted. The company’s CEO, William Holland, previously stated there was "no justification" for a delay, while a spokesperson argued that domestically produced gas remains the most responsible source for the UK's ongoing energy needs.

In contrast, environmental campaigners have lauded the pause. Tony Bosworth, a climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, stated that the council was right to delay the decision on what he described as a "deeply controversial fracking scheme" that "blights our countryside".

North Yorkshire Council has confirmed that a new date for the committee meeting will not be set until the Planning Inspectorate confirms whether the Secretary of State will officially "call in" the application for determination.