Latest news with #NorthYorkMoorsNationalParkAuthority
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Burniston gas drill plans will not be challenged by North York Moors authority
Planners at the North York Moors National Park Authority have said they will not object to proposals to drill for gas on nearby Oil and Gas Ltd has submitted a planning application for the temporary plant near Burniston, north of "proppant squeeze" project, which would include a 30m (98ft) drilling rig, has prompted demonstrations from local members of the authority said the site's impact on the national park would be "limited" because it was 800m away. A report added that a "degree of harm" caused by the direct visibility of the development had been it said: "Subject to clarification of certain matters and subject to imposition of appropriate controls, it is however concluded that this relatively short-term development would not lead to significant harm to the delivery of national park statutory purposes, or to national park special qualities."The committee did ask for clarification on issues including the time that the test rig would be in place, and the proposed route of HGVs visiting the to the planning application, the site potentially has significant gas the tests were successful, a new application would be submitted for a more permanent drill site, it said. The meeting heard the 30m (98ft) drilling rig would be part of a "proppant squeeze" test project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Oil and Gas has previously said that a "slurry" would be injected into the well to fracture surrounding rocks, allowing more gas to be technique, which has been described as "small-scale fracking", has been accused by some of being a loophole in the UK's moratorium on the controversial fossil fuel extraction proppant squeeze procedures have been regularly used in the UK for a number of years and industry experts consider the technique low-volume, unlike the process formally termed 'hydraulic fracturing'.About 70 members of the public attended a meeting last month, where members of Burniston Parish Council voted to object to the scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
12-04-2025
- BBC News
'Eyesore' Hole of Horcum viewing platform criticised
A viewing platform aimed at improving accessibility at a well-known beauty spot has been criticised as an "eyesore" by people with wood and metal platform overlooking the Hole of Horcum was an "accessibility enhancement" and was "designed to enable more people to experience this special place", the North York Moors National Park Authority wheelchair user Dawn Beck, from Bradford, was among those who took to social media to criticise the structure's told the BBC that images she had seen of the platform had made her feel "more disabled and less valued", adding: "If you're looking through bars, it's horrible and it doesn't make you feel valued." The Hole of Horcum is a spectacular natural amphitheatre 400ft (120m) deep and more than half a mile (0.75km) to local folklore, the "hole" was formed when a giant called Wade picked up and threw earth at someone with whom he was arguing, creating the massive hollow in the landscape. Ms Beck, 63, who suffers from myalgic encephalomyelitis, which is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, said she had planned to visit the area she said that looking at images of the new structure, the platform seemed to be a "box-ticking exercise rather than an enhancement".Despite the purpose of the structure being to improve accessibility at the site, it could actually make it harder for those who were disabled to look at the view, Ms Beck said. "It looks like it could be very difficult for somebody in the wheelchair to actually see through the bars." Ms Beck, who uses an electric wheelchair known as a powerchair, explained she was also worried the appearance of the viewing platform at the Hole of Horcum could feed discrimination against people with disabilities."It looks an absolute eyesore. It doesn't look good and I don't actually see what they're trying to do with it," she said."It just sticks out. It's not been made in any way that would blend in with the area, which means people who aren't disabled are going to get very upset about it and blame the disabled people."Ms Beck said the money spent on the platform should instead have been put towards disabled toilets in the car park or accessible paths at the beauty spot. The North York Moors Ranger Service said it had worked with a blacksmith to create the viewing platform overlooking the structure was paid for by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs accessibility funding for protected landscapes, it Lau, 59, from Huddersfield, who is T6 paraplegic, said looking at images of the platform, it seemed "like a game show challenge where you put someone in a wire cage". Mr Lau, who lost his job in the fire service after a mountain bike crash in 2014 left him paralysed from the chest down and reliant on a wheelchair, said he agreed the structure at the Hole of Horcum was an "eyesore".However, Mr Lau, who runs a blog and Facebook page called Accessible Nature, where he shares suitable routes for those with physical disabilities, said he also acknowledged the National Park Authority's intentions were good and there were safety regulations they had to follow."They're stuck between a rock and a hard place," Mr Lau Jackson, head ranger for the south of the North York Moors National Park, said the authority had been "keen to improve accessibility" in the area for many years."The installation of the viewing platform formed part of these accessibility improvements," Mr Jackson added that the structure was "intended to help everyone to experience this wonderful protected landscape". What is the Hole of Horcum? The Hole of Horcum is part of the Levisham Beck valley, in the Tabular Hills of the North York Moors National hole was created as a result of spring-sapping - where water wells up from the hillside and gradually undermines the process leads to erosion and means the hole still widens and deepens to this day. At the moment, it is about 400ft (120m) deep and 0.5 miles (0.75km) wide. It takes about three and a half to four hours to walk the seven-mile (11km) circular route, which covers moorland, woodland and The Whitby Guide Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Hopes York could become first UK 'dark sky city'
Experts hope York could become the UK's first "dark sky city" as part of a global movement to combat light pollution. York St John University academics joined astronomers on Tuesday to discuss how methods including the use of warmer, directional street lighting can have an impact in urban areas. The nearby North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales have been designated Dark Sky Reserves since 2020, meaning light pollution is particularly low, but the UK is yet to have a city with dark sky status. Dr Jen Hall, from the university, said: "We believe York has the potential, knowledge and impetus to be the first. "By coming together, we can protect our night skies for future generations and make York a model for responsible lighting in cities across the UK." Techniques put forward to reduce light pollution include using warm white LED lighting, switching lights off at times they're not required and changing angles to ensure lights point down towards the ground. The university said it had introduced several of these measures on its main campus, with hopes the project could widen across York. Dr Hall, associate professor of tourism and events, told BBC Radio York it would be a "huge challenge, but not an insurmountable one". Mike Hawtin, dark skies conservation lead at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said reducing light pollution was key for protecting nocturnal biodiversity and the environment more broadly. "Light pollution is easy to fix, it saves us money and reduces carbon emissions," he said. "The discussion is never ever about banning the light we all need for a wide range of reasons - it's about sensitive, responsible use, to light only what we need, only when we need it and at a level suitable to that need." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Festival to celebrate 'inky skies and sparkling stars' Dark Skies: Leaders of unique reserve issue plea More streetlights to be turned off or dimmed
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Ambitions for York to become UK's first 'dark sky city'
Experts hope York could become the UK's first "dark sky city" as part of a global movement to combat light St John University academics joined astronomers on Tuesday to discuss how methods including the use of warmer, directional street lighting can have an impact in urban areas. The nearby North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales have been designated Dark Sky Reserves since 2020, meaning light pollution is particularly low, but the UK is yet to have a city with dark sky status. Dr Jen Hall, from the university, said: "We believe York has the potential, knowledge and impetus to be the first. "By coming together, we can protect our night skies for future generations and make York a model for responsible lighting in cities across the UK."Techniques put forward to reduce light pollution include using warm white LED lighting, switching lights off at times they're not required and changing angles to ensure lights point down towards the ground. The university said it had introduced several of these measures on its main campus, with hopes the project could widen across Hall, associate professor of tourism and events, told BBC Radio York it would be a "huge challenge, but not an insurmountable one".Mike Hawtin, dark skies conservation lead at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said reducing light pollution was key for protecting nocturnal biodiversity and the environment more broadly. "Light pollution is easy to fix, it saves us money and reduces carbon emissions," he said. "The discussion is never ever about banning the light we all need for a wide range of reasons - it's about sensitive, responsible use, to light only what we need, only when we need it and at a level suitable to that need." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
15-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Helmsley residents call for review of national park HQ plan
Residents opposed to plans to build a new headquarters for a national park authority have written to the government to demand a review of the North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) was granted permission for the new building in Helmsley last month by North Yorkshire members of the Riccal Drive Residents Group claim the council failed to follow key road safety features of the Helmsley Town Plan when assessing the have also suggested there was a potential of conflict of interest as a case officer dealing with the application had previously worked for the NYMNPA. North Yorkshire Council declined to comment on the letter. The national park authority was given the go-ahead to build its new headquarters outside the national park, despite local residents claiming the development would harm their facility is set to be built off Riccal Drive, on land designated for the letter sent to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government officials campaigners have asked them to examine why a housing estate approved by the former Ryedale District Council in 2018 and the headquarters scheme were passed despite a consultants' report proposing safety measures for any future developments in the residents said the report recommended the separation of residential and employment traffic and road layouts to avoid any houses having driveway access to a mixed-use road, which has not now happened.A spokesperson for the group told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The council is incapable of marking its own homework and there is an urgent need for an independent review of the planning department, and the impact of successive judgements on the people of Helmsley."The adopted Helmsley Town Plan has not been followed when making major planning decisions."The National Park has said it remains committed to "being a good neighbour".Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
