A HIGHLY controversial application for a fracking test site in North Yorkshire is being recommended for approval.

The county council's planning committee meet on Friday, May 20, to consider the proposal from Third Energy involving testing for shale gas at a borehole at Kirby Misperton to ultimately produce gas from the well.

North Yorkshire County Council published its report about the application tonight following reference to legal counsel and thorough consideration of the detailed application provided by the applicant.

It said it had also examined the responses from statutory consultees and more than 4,000 representations, many of which it said objected to the Alma Farm scheme.

Tonight, Rasik Valand, Chief Executive of Third Energy said: “We are pleased that the Planning Officer has recommended that North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) approve our application.  

"Within our application, and throughout North Yorkshire County Council’s thorough assessment of it, including various stages of consultation, and through all the additional information provided, we have addressed the wide range of questions, concerns and comments raised by NYCC, statutory consultees and others. 

"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 and producing gas safely and discreetly from this site in Kirby Misperton for over 20 years and we will continue to maintain the same standards in the future.”  

The report by the council's head of planning Victoria Perkin accepted "this is a controversial proposal of major sensitivity and complexity."

She said each application should be considered on its merits.

The report said representations have been made that activites on the site have already caused considerable distress to some residents.

However it said: "There has been no demonstrable evidence to substantiate such statements to a material degree to warrant re-consideration of the assessment of the proposal as presented by the applicant."

It added the application should be determined in accordance with the council's development plan

"It is considered that the development would not conflict with these policies seeking to prevent unacceptable harm from being caused to residential amenity (including air quality, pollution, impact on health, noise, dust, odour and littter, highways and transport interests, ecology, restoration and aftercare, archeology, flooding, land instability and cumulative impact."

The report added that the proposed development is also supported by national policy - in the contribution it can make to the increased supply of gas.

It said that a range of arguments had been presented by objectors relating to concerns that fracking might adversely impact climate change, surface and groundwater resources, proitected species, landscape, air quality and have impact on ground vibration.

The report said the submissions of expert consultants had been reviewed both for and against the application and that the county planning authority is "satisfied that the mitigation of the effects of the development with regard to safeguarding the natural environment and the water environment, amenity, traffic and highways are both appropriate and proportionate."