MEMBERS of Ryedale Friends of the Earth are gathered on the streets of Ryedale to protest against fracking today. 

Brandishing placards and banners outside Barclays Bank in Malton, the anti-fracking campaigners said they are keen to continue raising awareness regarding the potential threat of fracking being granted permission in Ryedale.

Gas company Third Energy UK Gas Ltd has applied for permission to carry out test fracks at its existing site in Kirby Misperton.

The application is currently undergoing an eight week public consultation process at North Yorkshire County Council.

Barclays owns 97 per cent of Third Energy and Josie Downs, member of Ryedale Friends of The Earth said that although they have protested outside of the bank before, they want to continue putting pressure on Third Energy and Barclays not to frack in Ryedale.

She said: “We want to keep putting pressure on and keep reminding people that this is still going on.
“We want Barclays to promise that Third Energy will not frack in North Yorkshire. Hopefully we can keep on raising awareness as well even though it is a peaceful protest.”

The group are also asking passersby to sign letters to Barclays Bank asking them to agree not to carry out fracking in North Yorkshire.