Campaigners have urged North Yorkshire Council to reject a highly controversial planning application that would allow fracking to take place at a site near Scarborough.
The council's strategic planning committee meets on Friday to decide on an application by Europa Oil and Gas to use a low-volume fracking technique known as ‘proppant squeeze’ at Burniston.
The application has reportedly drawn over 1,600 local objections and is opposed by both Scarborough Town Council and local Labour MP Alison Hume.
The campaign group Friends of the Earth argues the proposal exploits a loophole in the current fracking moratorium, which covers only high-volume fracking.
New research from University of Edinburgh geologist Professor Stuart Haszeldine warns that earthquake risks from low-volume techniques are equally significant and unpredictable as those from high-volume operations.
The Government has pledged to ban fracking for good via its forthcoming Energy Independence Bill, though campaigners are urging ministers to ensure all forms of hydraulic fracturing are explicitly covered.
