Environmental group Friends of the Earth (FoE) has urged North Yorkshire Council to oppose a gas well planning application.
The application put forward by fossil fuel company, Europa Oil and Gas Ltd, involves plans to operate the gas project near the North York Moors National Park, and suggests its methods do not fall within the Government’s fracking moratorium.
However, FoE sought legal advice about the proposals due to concerns about transparency, arguing that ‘it is misleading to suggest that it is not a type of fracking when it comes to planning policy’.
Whilst Europa Oil and Gas Ltd argues that its techniques are safe, FoE is urging North Yorkshire Council to reject the application due to environmental risks, emphasising that the UK should ‘show global leadership’ about issues relating to the climate crisis.
FoE’s senior lawyer, Katie de Kauwe, said: ‘This fossil fuel proposal shines a spotlight on the glaring loophole in the existing fracking moratorium. The government must close it as a matter of urgency.
‘Fracking is deeply unpopular with local communities. It is absolutely essential that both the planning authority and the public know exactly what type of development this is, so that it doesn’t sneak in through the back door.’
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