THE first exploratory fracking well could be drilled near York before the end of the year, an anti-fracking group has claimed. Frack-Free York says under the terms of the PEDL 146 licence, which covers an area west and north of York, the first exploratory well should be sunk by December 31. IGas Energy, which holds the licence, admits it is ‘considering its options’.

There is an element of trying to play politics with fracking here. It is surely no accident that Frack-Free York has come forward with its claims so close to election day. But it does seem that that December 31 deadline is genuine. What we don’t know is whether IGas is determined to go ahead with exploratory drilling within that timeframe – or whether it could seek to extend the schedule.

In fact, as is so often the case when it comes to fracking, there is so much that we don’t know.

We don’t know where within the PEDL 146 licence area – which stretches from Askham Bryan through Rufforth to Wigginton – IGas might want to drill. We don’t know whether the company would be principally interested in shale gas or some other form of fossil fuel. We don’t even know whether it really intends to drill an exploratory well at all.

That is precisely the problem with fracking. The evidence for and against is so contradictory, and the information about where and when it could happen next so scant. IGas says it will ‘always communicate with local communities in advance of any activity’. We should hope so. But that will be scant consolation to those who fear North Yorkshire County Council’s decision to allow fracking at Kirby Misperton will open the floodgates.