ONE of the region's premier tourist attractions has revised its stance over the potential impact of fracking on the welfare of its endangered animals.

Flamingo Land has outlined its fears in a letter to North Yorkshire County Council, submitted as part of the council consultation on plans to frack at Kirby Misperton, near the theme park’s boundaries.

The theme park includes a zoo and holiday village and attracts more than 1.5 million visitors a year.

Park managers had previously said there was a lack of “tangible evidence” used in the anti-fracking campaign.

But now, Flamingo Land says it has obtained scientific evidence from the University of York which outlines the potential impact on human and animal health and is “urgently" trying to source studies on how fracking may impact its endangered wildlife.

The letter states it also had concerns for the health of residents and visitors, adding: “Our fear is that the current application is merely the start of a process which will lead to at least 40 local drilling sites within the Ryedale district, then tourist within our area will be negatively affected permanently.

“We have also noticed that a license has been approved to allow Third Energy to re-use water after the fracturing process. This was entirely ‘not’ how Third Energy explained this process to us as part of a pre-application consultation meeting.

“We were informed that the used water would be piped to containers, removed and treated, but now, this does not seem to be the case.

“Additionally, we now have concern for our beloved, and in many cases critically endangered, animal collection’s welfare.

“The treatment of water was a fundamental issue to Flamingo Land and we have reconsidered our position on the issue of fracking due to the difference between what we were assured of and what is now being applied for.”

Third Energy said the concerns were based on a “misconception” as to what re-use of water meant and on the transport, treatment and disposal of the flow back water after fracking.

Flow back water is a mixture of fracking fluid and water from the gas-rich rock. It can potentially contain salts, toxic metals and radioactivity.

Third Energy said strict regulation covered the handling of the water and it would only be re-used on site from one frack to the next to reduce the amount of water, before being taken away for treatment.

Rasik Valand, chief executive of Third Energy, said as far as the number of wells in the local area was concerned, there were only expected to be around 100 for the whole of the UK industry.

He said: "The Kirby Misperton site has produced gas a short distance from Flamingo Land for over 20 years without any impact and we have been pleased to see our neighbour thrive. Flamingo Land can be reassured that Third Energy would do nothing that would cause any harm to that much-loved business.”

North Yorkshire County Council is due to make a decision on the plans on May 20.