Green light given for fracking close to scenic beauty spot in Yorkshire

The first application for shale gas extraction in England since a ban on fracking was lifted in 2012 was given the go-ahead Monday night in Yorkshire.

Hundreds of people gathered at a meeting of county councillors to hear an application by Third Energy to frack for shale gas at a two-mile deep well at the village of Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire, close to the scenic North York Moors National Park.

By a vote of 7-4, the planning committee at North Yorkshire County Council approved the plan. Third Energy said after the decision they could start extraction by the end of this year.

Although fracking for shale gas remains controversial in Britain, it is supported by the national government who see it as a way of fuelling cheaper energy with less reliance on imported gas.

Third Energy director Andy Mortimer said at the committee meeting that fracking at their site in North Yorkshire was "highly unlikely to cause any sort of earth tremor," describing the area as "seismically benign." The company already holds licenses to produce gas in North Yorkshire and offshore in the North Sea.

Opponents, including landowners, farmers and residents, spoke at the meeting to voice their opposition to fracking. One of their main fears was that the process could contaminate water supplies. Other fears were that it could harm the areas lucrative tourism industry which attracts thousands of visitors to beauty spots around North Yorkshire. Endit