A large demonstration greeted councillors gathering in North Yorkshire today to consider whether to give a green light to a controversial fracking operation.

The UK firm Third Energy has applied for permission to frack for shale gas at its existing drilling site near the village of Kirby Misperton, between Malton and Pickering.

The move has provoked angry protests from environmental campaigners opposed to the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique as well as groups concerned about more local environmental impact issues.

Hundreds gathered outside the meeting at County Hall, Northallerton to support those opposing the plan.

The Northern Echo:

Members of Frack Free Hambleton, Jo, Ali Williams, Judith Holden and Claire Fairweather, from Thirsk at the anti-fracking rally outside County Hall in Northallerton. Picture: Emily Flanagan

Introducing the meeting, committee chairman Peter Sowray said: "This is by far the most controversial application we have ever had to deal with."

He told the packed hall: "I am sure all members have come along with an open mind and are ready to listen to the facts.

"It is not for us to determine national policy on fracking."

The first of more than 80 scheduled speakers, Ryedale District Councillor Lindsay Burr MBE, who represents the village of Kirby Misperton, told the committee she had been contacted by thousands of worried residents.

"Ryedale residents do not want to be the first in the UK to allow fracking. Fracking will devastate Ryedale.

“As a democracy, residents’ views must be taken into account. Residents are regular people worried about health, water pollution, children’s well-being and lorries delivering to the site, lorries taking away water, the impact on health, the impact on landscape.”

She said the commercialisation of a rural area dependant on tourism and agriculture was “unacceptable”.

"Do not devastate our area. Please refuse this application for the sake of this beautiful area and our residents."

Not everyone can fit into the council chamber and the discussions are being relayed to the crowd via loud speakers. Her speech was met with applause from those outside.

The Northern Echo:

Protesters raise a white rose at the anti-fracking rally. Picture: Emily Flanagan

John Ashton CBE, a former member of the Foreign Office’s climate change envoy, told the meeting “not since the poll tax” has the country seen an issue with “this kind of power to stir feelings of resentment” against the political class.

He said he was speaking not as a lobbyist or campaigner and told the committee their decision would have implications “beyond North Yorkshire”.

He described shale gas as a “red herring” and argued that it is imperative the country explored a fossil-free future and said any role for gas in the future would be confined to conventional gas.

He described fracking as a “speculative opportunity from those who think they can make money from it”.

Mr Ashton, who spent nearly 40 years working with policy-makers and politicians, added: “They want to have their cake, while eating yours.

“How can it be in the national interest in Yorkshire or Lancashire, but not in Surrey, or West Sussex?”

The Northern Echo:

An aerial shot of the existing well site at Kirby Misperton

Campaigners said they had come from as far afield as the Shetland Isles to attend the meeting.

Portaloos and even a cake stand have bee installed outside the venue for protesters.

North Yorkshire Police tweeted their thanks to the campaigners for cooperating with officers and council staff.

Last week, officers at North Yorkshire County Council recommended the granting of permission for Third Energy's application.

Planners came to this decision despite acknowledging that many of the 4,000 representations it had received in consultation were objections to the plans.

The officers' report published last week said: "Members will be very aware that this is a controversial proposal of major sensitivity and complexity. This is indeed demonstrated by the receipt of over 4,000 representations from much further afield than just the local community in which the application sits."

The Northern Echo:

Protestors take to the streets of Northallerton. Picture: Stuart Boulton

It said objections had been raised on the grounds of "climate change, surface and groundwater resources, protected species, landscape, air quality, noise, dark skies, heritage, seismicity/ground vibration and highway impacts as well as lacking compliance and conflicting with development plan policies".

The report said: "In this particular case it has been concluded that the degree of conflict with policies in the development plan is not sufficient to justify refusal of the application.

"It should also be noted that there is national policy support for the development of a shale gas industry in this country and this is an important material consideration."

The Government has said it is going "all out for shale" to boost energy security and the economy.

But opponents fear fracking - in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture rock and release gas - can cause problems including water contamination, earthquakes and noise and traffic pollution.

Environmentalists also warn that pursuing new sources of gas - a fossil fuel - is not compatible with efforts to tackle climate change, and that the focus should be on developing cleaner sources of energy such as renewables.

The Northern Echo:

The application site

No fracking has taken place in the UK since 2011, when tests on the Fylde coast were found to have been the probable cause of minor earthquakes in the area.

Since then, two high profiles applications to frack in Lancashire have been rejected by councillors and are now the subject of appeals.

Third Energy wants to frack for shale gas using an existing two-mile deep well - called KM8 - drilled in 2013. The firm wants to erect a 120ft high drilling rig over the well.

It said it has taken "every possible step" to ensure the plan will not impact on the environment.

A statement issued earlier by Rasik Valand, chief executive of Third Energy, said: “Today sees the start of determination by North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee of our application to hydraulically fracture our existing vertical well that was drilled in 2013 near the village of Kirby Misperton, on a wellsite that has been operational for decades.

"The Planning Officer’s positive recommendation comes after very detailed scrutiny of the application by the Planning Officer and statutory consultees and taking into account representations by members of the public and other groups.

"This work is reflected in the Planning Officer’s Report together with the planning conditions proposed. We believe that this thorough report will enable North Yorkshire County Council to reach a positive determination on our application.

“Third Energy has been drilling wells, producing gas and generating electricity safely and discreetly in North Yorkshire for over 20 years and we will continue to maintain the same responsible approach in the future.” 

Anti-fracking protesters kept up a high-energy and peaceful demonstration within the grounds of County Hall throughout the morning, with their drums, whistles and cheers - and supportive horns from passing cars - audible from inside the meeting.

Peter Coates, from Brawby, near Kirby Misperton, said: "They're just after what is under our feet - it's at all costs. These plans have generated a lot of fear and mistrust in people living in the nearby area."

The Northern Echo:

Peter Coates and James Hall, from Brawby, near Kirby Misperton at the anti-fracking rally at County Hall. Picture: Emily Flanagan

A number of members of Frack Free Hambleton - a group set up a few months ago - were also present.

Jo, from the group, said: "We're a real mix of people from pensioners to teenagers. It's a really mixed-group, we're not political and we're absolutely passionate about what we're doing."

Frack Free Hambleton's Judith Holden, from Thirsk said: "Billy Connolly put it best when he said fracking is a crime against Mother Earth."

Ali Williams added: "We just want everyone aware of what is looming over us. It makes you think, how dare they even consider doing this to us, under our own feet and homes."

Inside the meeting, democracy was also an issue for many of those speaking before the planning committee.

Helmesley Town Councillor Erica Rose: “One thing that came up again and again was democracy or, a sense  of betrayal."

She added: “Please remember the deep and valid concerns expressed so clearly by those who rely upon your presentation. In matters where you can act for us, please act for us.”

Many of those speaking before the meeting expressed deep concerns about the potential health impact.

Local GP Dr Tim Thornton told the committee they must decide whether "health can be traded against other opportunities" from fracking.

He cited various studies relating to associated health risks related to fracking, including a study carried out by the John Hopkins University, which demonstrated a 40 per cent increased risk of premature weeks of more than three weeks and a 30 per cent increase in complex pregnancies.

He cited other research which linked health problems among children and an increased risk in leukaemia. 

At times throughout the meeting people became emotional and tearful describing their fears for themselves, their children and grandchildren which they felt a shale gas operation could pose. 

One speaker, Susan Rayment, who lives near the Third Energy site, broke down in tears before the meeting, saying she was already having trouble sleeping near the site and feared she could be dogged by noise pollution and the impact of the operation for years to come.

Former Thirsk and Malton MP, Baroness McIntosh, explained how fracking could have a devastating impact on Ryedale’s economy, which she said was dependent on food, farming and tourism. Malton was recently designated a Food Enterprise Zone by the government to boost its agri-food industry.

“Ryedale exists on food, farming and tourism. There’s no proven economic model for fracking - there’s no safe history of doing so,” she said.

She added that tourism was one of the drivers of the local economy and was worth £213m to Ryedale last year alone, when it received 4.5m visitors.

She said almost 7,000 jobs were directly dependent on tourism within North Yorkshire and 54,000 rural businesses depended on the rural economy.

Today's planning committee meeting at County Hall, in Northallerton, is likely to continue on Monday due to the number of people who have applied to speak.