A CAMPAIGN group set up to support the fight against fracking in Ryedale has raised strong concerns after permission was granted for an “injection well” inside the North York Moors National Park.

Frack Free North Yorkshire wrote to North Yorkshire County Council regarding gas company Viking UK Gas Ltd’s application to erect a 15.3km long eight-inch steel pipe underground from a well site in Ebberston to a well site at Knapton Generating Station.

Russell Scott, who wrote the letter on behalf of the group, said he believes toxic chemicals released underground from the pipe would be enough to fill “4,500 Olympic 50-metre swimming pools” and would cause extensive damage to the environment and to people’s health. In his letter of objection, he said people were concerned about “inadequate data in relation to known cancer causing chemicals in the well”.

He also raised concerns over the potential risk of long-term ground-water contamination and damage to the national park.

Yet despite the group’s objections, Viking UK Gas Ltd was granted permission by North Yorkshire County Council at a recent meeting. The firm has also been granted permission by the National Park.

A Viking Gas spokesman said the application was not for fracking, but for conventional gas only.

The conditional permission was granted on the grounds that a Construction Environmental Management Plan was submitted.

Josie Downs, of Ryedale Friends of the Earth, said: “The idea of injecting toxic water into the ground in a national park is not particularly nice.”