I won't try to block fracking plans, says North Yorkshire MP

Kevin Hollinrake said his job is not to campaign against applications, despite saying the controversial procedure should not take place close to neighbourhoods.

In an interview with the independent fracking journalism website, the Thirsk and Malton MP said: "I would like to see any fracking activity a mile away from homes and schools."

Mr Hollinrake's Ryedale constituents could see drilling carried out on their door step after Third Energy applied to start work at Kirby Misperton.

However, when he was asked by The Press if he would stop applications proposing to drill less than a mile away from communities, he said that did not come under his remit as an MP.

He said: "It's up to the local authorities where these sites go and what I would say to them is they need to take in the proximity to local villages and schools and make sure they have access to main roads rather than going through villages.

"I don't think it's a case of me fighting against a particular application. What I'm saying is let's plan this so we minimize the impact on communities.

"It's not for me to defend applications.

"It's not my job to campaign for any particular application. What I'm trying to do is work with the local authority and the industry to make sure this has a minimal impact on the communities."

Reverend Jackie Cray, who lives in Kirby Misperton, said: "Mr Hollinrake stated in an interview that he thinks fracking sites should be at least a mile away from homes and schools.

"Third Energy's KM8 well-site is 0.44 miles from Ashfield Caravan Site, about 0.6 miles to the centre of Kirby Misperton village, and only 0.7 miles from Flamingo Land, where there is semi-permanent accommodation for employees.

"We therefore call on Mr Hollinrake to be true to his word and publicly oppose Third Energy's planning application to frack at KM8 on the basis that it is too close to residential areas."