RESIDENTS are being given the opportunity to meet with regulators who would be involved in overseeing any shale gas production.

Representatives from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive, together with the British Geographical Survey and the Planning Advisory Service, will be attending the event on Monday. The meeting will take place at Malton School in the main hall, from 7pm to 9pm.

It will be a ticketed event reserved for those residents on the Thirsk and Malton constituency register of electors.

The meeting will be chaired by Ryedale MP Kevin Hollinrake who has recently returned from a trip to Pennsylvania where he visited sites where shale gas production had taken place and spoke to people whose lives the industry had most affected.

Mr Hollinrake said: “I wanted to organise this meeting with UK regulators and experts because although my trip to the USA answered some of my concerns about what shale gas production means to local communities, it also left me with many questions.

"We have good regulations in this country and many of the problems encountered in America would not be allowed to happen here.

"However, I feel that more reassurances are needed that constant checks would be carried out at every step of the way if fracking went ahead and that local residents would be openly and constantly informed of developments.

"I want to give people, especially those living around Kirby Misperton, the chance to hear from independent experts who can explain the actual facts and give clear explanations about the truth of what shale gas exploration entails. I hope my constituents will be able to attend the meeting which I am sure will be very informative.”

Admission by ticket only, one ticket per email application to office@kevinhollinrake.org.uk

Please provide your full name and address on application. Those successful will receive a response by 5pm tomorrow (Thursday) via email.