GAS exploration wells planned for the North York Moors National Park will be discussed by Westerdale residents at a forthcoming public meeting.

Sterling Resources UK is applying for permission to explore for gas at Whyett Bank, near the road between Westerdale and Castleton. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian parent company Sterling Resources.

Government regulations allow a group of companies exclusive right to search, bore and obtain minerals in designated areas.

Gas is being produced further south at four fields in Ryedale by another firm.

The first significant accumulation of gas was discovered in Eskdale in 1937. Gas was produced at other sites in the region during the Sixties and Seventies.

Sterling hopes to drill the first well in September and the second by September 2004.

A planning document gives details on the site's history, habitat and geology, and sets out phases of work, site preparation, access, safety, testing, noise levels, drainage, waste disposal and restoration. Twelve workers are expected at the site.

Water for drilling will be transported in road tankers and contained in two 5,000-gallon tanks. For an initial three days, 36,000 gallons of water is needed, falling to 10,000 gallons per day thereafter.

At Danby Group Parish Council this week, clerk Pam Reeves said: "We are making a decision tonight because there will be a public meeting."

Westerdale Coun John Randles has invited planner David Langham and another representative to a public meeting Westerdale Village Hall on Tuesday, February 18, at 7pm.

"They will have visual displays and will answer any questions we have," he said.

Chairman Coun Herbert Tindall asked whether a decision on the application should be taken at the end of the public meeting.

Coun Linda Grout hoped the national park planning committee would defer the application to give local people more time.

"Nobody has had any time to consider this. We want our comments to be printed in full in the planning committee agenda."

Coun Les Underwood said: "I think emotions will be running quite high at the Westerdale meeting. It wouldn't be right to make a decision that night. I think we should take some time.

"This is quite a big thing for a small area. Perhaps we should let other parish councils know?"

He thought the plans had implications for Hutton le Hole and Thornton le Dale but Coun Rita Rudsdale was particularly concerned about Castleton roads, saying: "I'd like to know where all the water is coming from. If it's from Lockwood and Scaling Dam, the lorries won't be going all the way down to Hutton le Hole to get to Westerdale."

She said the application's description of noise levels being no louder than wind rustling in trees was laughable.