Concerns about ‘undermining democracy’ ahead of Scarborough gas rig decision
Concerns have been raised about a council ‘undermining democracy’ ahead of a major planning meeting to decide on proposals for a gas drilling rig near Scarborough.
The campaign group Frack Free Scarborough has raised concerns about an advisory from North Yorkshire council suggesting that councillors arrive at the planning meeting ahead of a protest outside Scarborough Town Hall.
Campaigners have said the move could unfairly influence members of the committee and impact the right of locals to make their views known.
Europa Oil & Gas’ controversial gas drilling rig near Scarborough has been recommended for approval at a meeting on Friday January 30, despite more than 1,500 objections.
Campaigners said that “planning officers recently told committee members to arrive no later than noon for the 1.30pm meeting; the early arrival was explicitly linked to the planned lobby.”
The frack free group stated that the decision raised concerns about planning officers’ neutrality and fair democratic participation.
However, North Yorkshire Council’s head of democratic services, Daniel Harry, said: “Members of the strategic planning committee and supporting officers have been asked to attend Scarborough Town Hall in advance of the 1.30pm start so they can be briefed on arrangements for the meeting.”
The planning meeting will be held at Scarborough Town Hall, which has limited space in its public gallery, despite calls for it to be organised at a venue with larger capacity, such as Scarborough Spa.
A spokesperson for Frack Free Scarborough said: “Planning officers are required to maintain strict impartiality in the planning process.
"Yet, by recommending approval of the scheme and then arranging for councillors to effectively avoid the lobby, they appear to be framing peaceful democratic protest as a threat.
“Peaceful democratic demonstration serves the crucial purpose of ensuring elected representatives directly encounter the strength of community feeling before making decisions that affect those communities.
“By arranging for councillors to bypass the lobby, officers are effectively undermining this core democratic function.”
Mr Harry noted that “councillors will be aware that an organised protest is likely to be taking place before the meeting”.
He added: “In view of the large numbers of people expected to attend both the meeting itself and the planned protest outside of the town hall, additional staff and security will be present on the day.
“Alternative venues were considered for the meeting as a result of the large numbers expected, but the town hall was deemed the most suitable venue.”
Frack free campaigners said it was too late to adjust the timing of its lobby, as its publicity materials had already gone out, and that the demonstration would start at 12.30pm outside Scarborough Town Hall, St Nicholas Street.
Plans for the proposed wellsite and 38m rig, which is located 350 metres to the east of the village of Burniston, 700 metres southwest of the coastline, and 800 metres south of the North York Moors National Park boundary, were first announced in 2024.
Friends of the Earth’s Yorkshire and Humber Regional Campaigner, Simon Bowens, said the council’s recommendation to approve the scheme was “deeply concerning”.
“Proppant squeeze is a form of fracking, and local residents have made it crystal clear that they do not want it in their community,” he added.
However, planning officers also said that while the proposal would lead to a change to the landscape, it would “not result in any unacceptable impacts on local amenity or ecology”.
A spokesperson for Europa Oil & Gas said: “We are pleased to receive a positive recommendation from the council’s planning team regarding our plans for the well in Burniston, and hope that the planning committee members will now support the expert recommendation made following a very thorough process.”
NYC’s Mr Harry told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “A large number of representations have been received regarding this particular planning application.
"As with all applications, they will be taken into consideration by members of the committee prior to any decision being made.
"A number of people have also registered to speak at the meeting.”