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No 39 - NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL NOW FREE TO FORMALLY REJECT EUROPA FRACKING APPLICATION

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NYC's strategic planning committee voted on 24/4/26 to say they were 'minded to' reject Europa Oil and Gas's planning application to frack in Burniston. The vote 'minded to reject' was made in lieu of a 'final reject' pending a decision by the Secretary of State to say if another Environment Impact Assessment was required or not. See Newsletter 38 for details. The Secretary of State has now decided the an EIA is not required. So North Yorkshire Council are free to make their rejection final.

Drill or Drop reports here in more detail.

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Minister clears way for formal refusal of Burniston frack plan

By Ruth Hayhurst on April 28, 2026​

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We are still over the moon that the decision went against the proposal so spectacularly. The speakers at the council meeting were eloquent and passionate against the proposal. But Europa Oil and Gas used their time to tell the councillors how the neighbours of Broughton don't notice their gas drill and flare, and how they are going to provide 'Yorkshire Oil for Yorkshire people' (a quick note here to say it is not possible to isolate Yorkshire gas within the national grid, and EOG answer to their shareholders - so if they can get more money for their gas abroad, that is where their gas will go). Their speeches were rather insulting to the councillors of the Stratgic Strategic Committee. The councillors had time to question the planners. It was noticable that the planners seemed not to know how to answer the councillors on many occasions. It gradually became very clear the planners answers did not stand up to scrutiny. There was a huge applause when the vote was finally counted.

 

The council are now expected to carry out what was decided at the meeting - to formalise the rejection if the SoS decided an EIA was not required. However, EOG have already stated they will appeal this decision.

 

FUNDRAISING

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We still really need your help to raise money. We need it at the moment to get legal advice about a possible appeal by Europa. We are also submitted a formal complaint about the NYC planning process which may lead to us referring the issue to the Ombudsman. We also have employed a consultant planner who has helped us up to now with great advice. We have organised various fund raising events to pay for these - see below. Please support these events! In the event of an appeal we will be looking at go fund me type pages. But in the meantime, why not celebrate our success and have fun while raising money for a really worthwhile cause?

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NEXT EVENT : DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY WITH

THE OLD SCHOOL BAND!

Buy Tickets here

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Other Dates for your Diary:

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JUNE 26 7pm - RETURN OF OUR POPULAR QUIZ NIGHT

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SEP 18 7pm - FASHION SHOW featuring "models" from the fund raising committee.

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OCT 3 - PROMISES AUCTION!

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All at Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall

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WHO ARE FFCC - Frack Free Costal Communities?

We are a local group, who have been campaigning regionally and nationally, from the villages on the North Yorkshire Heritage coast including Burniston, Cloughton, Scalby, Staintondale and Ravenscar. We want to protect our beautiful heritage coastline from industrialisation and the irreversible damage to our local environment, and the wider climate that Europa’s ‘Proppant squeeze’ (fracking) would cause. We believe the use of fossil fuels are destroying our planet and fracking should be banned in all forms.

We need to spread the message further. We would love to hear from any environmental organisations with national reach who might be able to help us spread the message nationwide.

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WHAT IS FRACKING - AND WHY IS ALL ON SHORE FRACKING NOT BANNED NOW?

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Fracking is short for Hydraulic Fracturing. Hydraulic Fracturing is a process that uses fluids to fracture rocks. Lower volume fracturing is not prevented by the moratorium on associated hydraulic fracturing, which was introduced in 2019. The moratorium affects only operations using more than 1,000m3 of fluid per fracturing stage or 10,000m3 in total. This volume is more than was used in Lancashire causing earthquakes which damaged properties and resulted in the moratorium!  Opponents have described this as a loophole in the law and called for a wider ban to include lower volume fracking. This planning application by Europa, if approved, will set a precedent for the many applications waiting in the wings. The government has replied to a parliamentary petition to ban 'small scale fracking' saying “the government recognises concerns from local communities regarding low volume fracturing and the fact that it is currently treated differently, and is therefore currently reviewing the position with regard to low volume hydraulic fracturing.” In the 2025 Labour Conference, Ed Milliband said (as reported by Drill or Drop) “I say let’s ban fracking and send this bunch of frackers packing too”.

Thank you for your support

Clare from Frack Free Coastal Communities

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