A MASSIVE 97 per cent of people in the coast and moors area of North Yorkshire have given the thumbs-up to the multibillion- pound plan for a new potash mine on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.

York Potash, the company behind the scheme, earmarked to be based at Sneaton near Whitby, says responses from the public show people in Scarborough, Whitby, the North York Moors National Park, Redcar and Cleveland and the rest of Yorkshire back the project.

“The vast majority of people were satisfied with issues such as the building and landscape design, action to manage vehicle movements, and that the project could proceed without harming wildlife and ecology,” says Chris Fraser, the managing direct of York Potash and chief executive of its parent company, Sirius Minerals. Nearly 1,800 people responded to questionnaires about the mine, he added.

Mr Fraser said the economic impact of the mine would include 2,140 jobs directly and indirectly created during operations, with £1 billion being contributed to the British economy each year, with £1.2 billion in exports annually.

In addition, he said, there would be £234 million in tax contributions to the government each year, with £48 million being paid to the local economy. At its peak there will be 1,670 construction jobs created at the mine.

The planning application for the mine and mineral transport system has now been formally submitted to the Helmsley-based National Park authority.

Mr Fraser said: “Decisions are currently expected in early 2015.

“We believe we have a very strong planning case that will deliver many benefits with the least possible impactand we look forward to the local authorities completing their difficult but important job of reviewing this significant application.”

York Potash would be contributing over £30 million in the first 20 years in legal Section 106 contributions which would include £5 million over 10 years and £200,000 annually after that to the North York Moors National Park Authority to “offset and enhance” the impact of the project in the park, with a further £3.5 million over a decade, and £100,000 each subsequent year to promote the park’s tourist industry.

In addition £10 million will be spent over 20 years on tree planting and £830,000 to aid education, employment and training in local schools, and £500,000 a year for three years to double train services on the Esk Valley line between Whitby and Middlesbrough.