BARONESS of Pickering, Anne McIntosh, will today make an impassioned plea to the Government to listen to the voices of rural communities affected by fracking operations.

The former Thirsk MP will speak of the fears some residents have over Third Energy’s fracking site in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire.

Protests have been held every day since lorries began delivering materials to the Habton Road site in September and Lady McIntosh will take up the cause in the House of Lords later today.

She described North Yorkshire as “probably the most beautiful county in the land” and wants to highlight the risk that fracking could pose to farming, fisheries and tourism.

Lady McIntosh will tell the Lords: “Yes this fragile economy could be imperilled by fracking over the wishes of local people who fear for their health, the safety of the water and the value of their homes.

“Will the Government accept that, while hydraulic fracturing may boost UK energy needs in the short term, that this technology has never been tested anywhere in the UK ever before and that the level of self-regulation is inappropriate, given the potential long-term damage to the environment, people and property?

“Currently the North Yorkshire economy is vibrant so why would anyone put that at risk?

“Will the voice of local people be heard?”

Lady McIntosh will also call for Government assurances that money will be spent on repairing any damage to land caused by fracking and that any fugitive emissions of methane gas which may escape from the wells long after drilling has finished will be the responsibility of the fracking companies and not the landowner at that time.

Meanwhile, some Kirby Misperton residents have spoken out about the disruption being caused to their everyday lives by the protestors at the well site.

Ruth Hardie told the BBC: “It’s constant, it’s a grinding, constant, annoying thing that they do and they don’t seem to understand the pressure they’re putting on the village.”

However, a Habton resident said she believed the villages and the infrastructure were not under increased pressure because of protesters.

She said: “It makes the difference of nine minutes between Kirby Misperton and Habton. I know because I’ve timed it.

“There’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t be able to get to work or school.”