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BBC News
22-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Plan to rebuild Thirsk ambulance station after tree damage
A new ambulance station could be built in a North Yorkshire town after the existing building was damaged by a fallen tree.A planning application on the proposed demolition of the current station on Newsham Road in Thirsk has been submitted to North Yorkshire station was hit by a tree in December during Storm Ambulance Service said a cost-benefit analysis concluded it made more financial sense to replace the station with a new purpose-built facility. The application said: "The existing building has limitations and is in need of modernisation."A proposed new building can be designed to meet these needs along with an improved thermal efficiency."The proposed station would be of a similar size and capacity to the original to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, demolition work could start next households will receive letters explaining the works and timeline, as well as contact details for the demolition application said the existing landscaping at the site would be retained "as far as possible". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Solar farm proposal for Selby green belt land rejected
Plans to erect a solar farm which would have covered an area equivalent to 80 football pitches on green belt land have been rejected by local 49.95MW scheme, proposed for an 156-acre (63-hectare) site at Hillam, near Selby, was recommended for approval by planning officers at North Yorkshire solar farm would have provided enough green energy to supply 17,000 homes and displace 107,500 tonnes of CO2 a year, according to the councillors voted to reject the plans due to the loss of "good quality" arable land and the fact the scheme fell within green belt. Setting out their reasons for refusing the plans, councillor Angus Thompson said: "Whilst I fully accept that climate change is a special circumstance, this is good quality agricultural land."I can assure you I'm a retired farmer - I know all about sheep, I know all about arable land - and grade two is good quality arable land and it's in a green belt." Councillor John McCartney said several other solar farms had already been approved for the Selby district, and further appropriation of land to generate solar power was "unacceptable". "The accumulation should say we shouldn't put any more in the Selby district," he stated."I get the point about the grid connections, but there's got to be fairness as well - and just raping the entire south Selby by putting solar panels on it is unacceptable."The meeting heard an application for a solar farm near Malton had recently been given the go-ahead by the secretary of state, after initially being refused by the council, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillors were warned that while the council would stand by the decision to refuse the application, the decision could still be overturned on residents, community leaders and the CPRE, formerly the Campaign for the Protection of England, had all objected to the proposal, with CPRE North and East Yorkshire claiming the development, on Austfield Lane, would not conform to local or national planning to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans submitted for Burniston gas drilling site
A planning application to drill for gas near the North York Moors National Park has been Oil & Gas said it would install a 98ft (30m) tall drilling rig on land in Burniston, near Scarborough, as part of its "proppant squeeze" project, if the application was approved by North Yorkshire firm said the site was a "potentially significant gas resource" and, if further approvals were granted, extraction could take place for "about 20 years".However, the firm has faced opposition from local residents and politicians concerned about the environmental impact of the scheme. The company 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 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 as "hydraulic fracturing".Hundreds of pages of documents have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council detailing the company's proposals. 'Responsible business' If given the go-ahead, the initial scheme at Burniston would test whether gas could be extracted on a commercially viable basis, according to Europa Oil & company's proposals said: "As a responsible oil and gas exploration and production business, Europa is highly conscious of its responsibilities and is mindful of the potential risks to people and the environment."Any risk of pollution caused by water run-off can be mitigated by using standard techniques that have proven successful at other on-shore sites." The firm added there had been "a significant increase in protest activity by those opposed to fossil fuel exploration and production", which could mean "24/7" security was required at the and Whitby Labour MP Alison Hume and David Skaith, elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, had already opposed the plans, according to the Local Democracy Reporting proposals have also met with opposition from environmental groups and residents' raised concerns about the impact on ecology, as well as being "worried for the village in general with all the noise, the light pollution and the HGVs".However, the company has said has said that "no one's going to notice" due to the "small volume" of the company has confirmed that "some of the gas will be flared on-site", which the Frack Free Scarborough group said would cause night-time pollution and unpleasant group has announced it was planning a protest march in response to the plans later this month. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Scarborough West Pier: Decision deferred on £20m upgrade
A decision on plans to redevelop Scarborough's West Pier has been deferred by senior planners at North Yorkshire £20.2m scheme would restore existing heritage facilities at the harbour, create new kiosks and add new parking facilities and public planners said the project would respect and celebrate the town's fishing heritage, campaigners believed working fishermen were not being protected. Cheryl Mann, of residents' group United Scarborough, said: "This is going to kill our fishing heritage, this is all about tourism." Protesters who gathered outside the town hall instead called for a boat hoist to attract partnership from Dogger Bank Wind Farm, whose ships could be serviced in the harbour at Scarborough."We don't want to rely on tourism that is only visible for six months of the year," Ms Mann said."We can fix the boats, we can have a stopover for the workmen, it's a year-round industry. We could invest so much in the town." Scarborough Town Board chairman David Kerfoot has supported the plans, which would be funded by a grant from the government's Towns said: "Many of the buildings on the West Pier are in desperate need of renovation, and these proposals would dramatically improve the facilities for the local fishing industry, staff and visitors to the pier."It is also imperative that we continue to drive growth in the town, and the plans would make West Pier a must-visit destination for hospitality, leisure and events which we hope will encourage further investment to boost the local economy."However, councillors unanimously voted to defer the decision, instead asking for more information. At the scene: Richard Edwards, BBC North Yorkshire Political Reporter As they have several times before, protesters turned out in good numbers outside Scarborough Town Hall, carrying placards and unlike before, they were quiet – subdued even. Not a chant in earshot."It's been decided before this meeting even starts," said sixth-generation fisherman Paul once the debate began inside the historic chamber, it became clear members of North Yorkshire Council's strategic planning committee - which looks at the big applications - were far from convinced on parts of the £20m said they wanted to hear more about its economic benefits, including the difference adding a boat hoist, so vessels could service off-shore wind farms, would were other concerns too, about surface water disposal - currently due to go into the combined sewer system - and on energy by one, the councillors spoke up about their concerns until, unanimously, they voted to defer the decision and asked officers to come back with more this saga of the sea, now into years, not months, will continue."We live to fight another day," smiled Cheryl Mann, from residents' group United 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.
