Appeal launched over controversial 125ft gas drilling rig near Scarborough

Europa Oil & Gas has appealed North Yorkshire Council’s refusal of its plan for a 125ft gas drilling rig in Burniston, near Scarborough. The Planning Inspectorate will decide the appeal, which could allow a temporary exploration wellsite to proceed.

Councillors rejected the proposal in April, citing potential harm to the heritage coast and landscape, nearby homes, tourism and the council’s climate objectives. Europa says the project could create jobs and that the rig would have little effect on residents; its proposed well stimulation method has been compared with small-scale fracking. Any future gas production would need separate consent, and it is unclear whether the Government’s planned fracking ban would cover this method.