CAMPAIGNERS from the Ryedale anti-fracking group took their protest to Westminster as Government ministers met to discuss fracking during a Commons debate.

Members of Frack Free Ryedale joined protestors outside Parliament on Monday with signs and banners as MPs gathered for a final debate on fracking in the Government’s Infrastructure Bill.

The anti-fracking movement in Ryedale has steadily been gathering support since gas company Third Energy UK Gas announced in November last year that it would be applying for drilling permission at an existing well site in Kirby Misperton.

Human rights activist Bianca Jagger showed her support for Ryedale, clutching a Frack Free Ryedale sign as she spoke outside of Westminster yesterday (Tuesday), urging the Government to invest in renewable energy instead.

Ms Jagger said that she was extremely worried that people’s lives were at risk.

Despite Prime Minister David Cameron previously stating that the Government would go “all out” in the search for shale gas, ministers accepted Labour proposals to tighten environmental regulations and ban fracking in national park areas.

But an attempt to enforce a moratorium to suspend fracking for shale gas was rejected by MPs, after Labour did not take part despite the Environmental Audit Committee warning of the uncertainties of the environmental impacts of fracking. The Infrastructure Bill will now go to the House of Lords with the new rules and could be subject to further changes.

Chris Redston, of Frack Free Ryedale, said: “The fact the Government has now banned fracking in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as the Howardian Hills, and sites of special scientific interest is a positive step, but the new Labour Party amendments on regulations are merely a sticking plaster to appease their backbenchers.

“The fight for a moratorium on fracking in Ryedale and elsewhere is getting stronger every day, as people realise how potentially destructive it will be to the environment, our countryside, our climate, tourism and day-to-day rural life.”

Ahead of the meeting, Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey and chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, said she was keen to scrutinise the bill.

She said that she was looking for “assurances as regards the potential for groundwater contamination, noise pollution and other environmental concerns relating to fracking”.

She said: “Although it is the official policy of the coalition Government to hydraulically fracture for shale gas, I believe I have adopted a principled position which reflects the views of my constituents who have raised their concerns with me. It is for that reason I intend to abstain on the Bill as a whole.”

Ms McIntosh was also responsible for organising a recent meeting for the residents of Kirby Misperton, Great and Little Barugh and Great Habton, alongside Third Energy.

About 120 people attended the meeting where they were given a presentation by Third Energy and had the opportunity to put their questions to operations director John Dewar.

Mr Dewar said that people appeared to be concerned about traffic, noise pollution and the potential for industrialisation of the countryside.

He said: “These are all issues we need to address to assure people we can operate safely, cleanly and environmentally soundly. The fracking process itself seems to be becoming less of an issue as people become more familiar with it.”

As part of an ongoing consultation process, Third Energy will be continuing to hold consultation events throughout Ryedale, as well as conducting 13 baseline surveys over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Norton councillors have also supported a motion put forward by a town resident to oppose fracking in the area.

Janice Gwilliam, who lives in Langton Road, asked members of the town council to debate the motion after raising her own concerns about fracking.

Mrs Gwilliam said there were a lot of technical and scientific issues that needed to be resolved. “It is on record that almost all scientists attribute global warming to human intervention and this is only going to release more carbon into the environment,” she said.

“We should be investigating ways to use renewable energy, including tidal and wave power particularly as we are not far from the coast.”

Mrs Gwilliam also raised questions about the financial viability of fracking when many of the US companies had gone bankrupt. Councillor Di Keal said she felt very strongly about the issue.

“There is a risk to the public in terms of light and noise pollution among others, which will be devastating for Kirby Misperton and wider Ryedale,” she said.

“Why would you want something like this on the edge of a National Park and near a mayor tourist attraction and will have a huge impact on our communities.”

Coun Keal said: “Renewables are the way forward and I do not think we should be touching this unknown industry and I am totally opposed to fracking coming to Ryedale.”

A public meeting about fracking has been organised by Ryedale District Council at the Milton Rooms, Malton, on Wednesday, February 4, at 6.30pm.

Speakers will include John Dewar of Third Energy, Chris Redston of Frack Free Ryedale, Mike Hill, an independent chartered engineer, and Professor Richard Davies of Durham University.

Admission to the meeting is by ticket only, due to restrictions on numbers allowed in the Milton Rooms, and is limited to 250.