RESIDENTS are calling for a gas company seeking permission to frack in Ryedale to halt their plans.

People living just a few miles from Kirby Misperton, the site where Third Energy UK Gas Limited will be applying for permission to frack at their existing well site, want the company to stop their plans while people learn more about the process.

Sue Gough, who lives in Great Barugh, said that people in the village are gradually starting to gather more information through local meetings and research and said that as people find out more many are against the controversial gas extraction process happening in Ryedale.

She said: “I want Third Energy to halt their plans and be open and honest with those who are living closest to the site.

“I am extremely concerned about this and I would be fighting it tooth and nail even if I wasn’t living so close to the site.

“I have spoken to a lot of people in the village many of whom are also concerned. I spoke to one lady who said that she didn’t see anything wrong with fracking but then went to a meeting and now she is against it after finding out more information.”

Residents have raised concerns regarding the potential for water contamination and the impact on health drilling in the area could have on people.

However, Third Energy maintains that it can do the operation “safely, cleanly and quietly” if permission is granted.

The company has also previously addressed concerns regarding carcinogenic chemicals as it stated that the Environment Agency has to approve all of the chemicals used before the entire process can be approved.

Water contamination is also extremely unlikely, according to the company, as layers of equipment would need to fail before the water would be contaminated.

Campaign group Frack Free Ryedale has also submitted a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about the brochure sent out by Third Energy to residents living near the site.

However, due to postal problems a lot of residents did not receive the information until weeks later as the leaflets had to be sent out again.

A spokesman for Frack Free Ryedale said: “We believe the residents brochure is both inaccurate and misleading and does not give a clear picture of the company’s long-term plans to frack in Ryedale.

“We feel it is important to give the other side of the story on the threat that fracking poses to our community.”

Frack Free Ryedale will hold its next meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at the Blue Ball in Newbiggin, Malton, at 7.30pm.

The group say that the meeting will give people the chance to meet other residents who are concerned about fracking in the community and to find out more about the group and what they are doing.