No 26 - 30th December 2025.

We hope you have all had a very merry Christmas! This is the last newsletter of 2025. We have achieved so much and worked so hard – we should all be very proud and thank you to all of you who have worked, contributed, baked cakes, made tea, researched, donated and turned up. Get ready for next year!!!!

This newsletter comes from FFCC - the campaign group in Burniston fighting Europa Oil and Gas’s application for an appraisal well to frack for gas. There are many dedicated groups in the UK with the same objective - to stop ALL fracking in the UK. Let’s start working together. If you are one of those groups please share this newsletter to your group contacts.

Friends of the Earth letter to NYC

The government published its draft National Planning Policy Framework on 16th Dec – under consultation until 10th March 2026. One massive policy change is “ great weight to the benefits of mineral extraction… does not apply to development involving peat, coal or onshore oil and gas extraction. This represents a policy change for oil and gas (i.e. the policy no longer provides that “great weight” should be given to the benefits of oil and gas extraction)”. This can be used by all campaigners against onshore oil and gas extraction.

FoE have written to North Yorkshire Council to draw their attention to this as it has a ‘direct and significant relevance’ to the Europa planning application in Burniston. See the letter here. BUT there has been no response from NYC. It is only logical and fair for NYC to defer its decision on this extremely controversial planning application which will become a precedent for the oil and gas companies and will destroy the way of life for the residents. The government has explicitly stated its direction of travel. Please dont allow NYC to ignore the new planning policy - write to them to DEFER the decision.

Drill or Drop have written an article about this. Thank you to Drill or Drop for writing so many great articles.

Freedom of Information Response raises Concerns

A heads up that an FOI request asking for all communications between NYC and Europa and Egdon has been answered by NYC and we are trawling through the 190 pages of detail, but watch this space as it is already thrown up great concerns regarding the way the consultation has been carried out so far. More news in the next newsletter.

The "WHAT IS FRACKING" debate

Following our previous discussions on the change in law including ALL fracking – and what will be defined as fracking in the law – this is Barry Gardiner who was shadow minister filmed at Leith Hill in 2018.

Watch his comments below.

Alison Hume MP writes in the Parliamentary News on the need for clear and consistent legislation.

REMINDER OF WHY WE ARE DOING THIS

At the end of our first full year of campaigning – this video shows the beauty of Burniston and the surrounding area and what we are fighting for. (Get you tissues out)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy Christmas from Frack Free Coastal Communities steering group. See this festive video staring Chris Garforth courtesy of John Sessions.

HELP - WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET

WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP WITH THE FOLLOWING

Share this email far and wide

ASK NYC TO DEFER THE PLANNING DECISION. DONT LET NYC ignore the upcoming changes to Planning Policy. Mention the change to policy in the draft NPPF that "the policy no longer provides that “great weight” should be given to the benefits of oil and gas extraction." As the portal STILL does not work, please send by email to: planning.control@northyorks.gov.uk quoting ref NY/2025/0030/ENV and include your name and address. All other objections can still be sent at this time.

ASK FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE ADDED TO THE PLANNING PORTAL FOR TRANSPARENCY

Write to NYC requesting planning meeting to be held at the Scarborough SPA, To planning.control@northyorks.gov.uk ref - NY/2025/0030/ENV include your name and address. See why in this article. Burniston Parish Council have already requested this and they have had no response. NYC promised to hold local planning meetings LOCALLY. In the interests of local democracy this promise should be honoured. The Spa is the only venue large enough to hold the number of people that wish to attend this meeting in Scarborough. ASK FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE ADDED TO THE PLANNING PORTAL FOR TRANSPARENCY

COME to the THE PLANNING MEETING which is expected in January. We will let you know the time and place. This decision will set a precedent for the whole nation. Please turn up to show support to all anti fracking campaigners.

Write to Michael Shanks MP at Michael.shanks.mp@parliament.uk telling him why ALL fracking should be banned as promised by Ed Miliband. Don’t forget his Westminster Hall debate response to Alison Hume, don’t forget your name and address.

URGENT - Sign the Petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/728912 The government still has not responded to the petition properly! See this article from Drill or Drop. The deadline for this is 4th Jan 2026

Thank you for reading our newsletter

Clare

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friends of the Earth letter to NYC

​

Freedom of Information Response raises Concerns

​

HELP - WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET

​