THE decision on whether or not to allow fracking at Kirby Misperton has been delayed by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), possibly until February 2016.

The reasons for the delay are included in a letter written by the authority to representatives of Third Energy, who are applying for permission to frack at the 'KM8' site.

According to the letter, the council are seeking more detail and clarification on points as varied as noise pollution, lighting, traffic, fracking hours, water, landscape and local ecology.

The decision was due to be made by November 18. The new date mooted by the council is February 9, 2016.

Third Energy confirmed that they had received a letter from NYCC requesting an extension to the determination period. A spokesperson said the company was considering its response.

John Dewar, operations director at Third Energy said: "NYCC has requested the extension to ensure that a number of matters, the majority of which are not specific to hydraulic fracturing, can be fully addressed. Several of the matters which require clarification have arisen as the result of responses by statutory consultees and other representations made to the Planning Authority.

"We appreciate that this application, and thus North Yorkshire County Council itself, is the subject of close scrutiny and public interest. But is should be remembered, that this application relates to an existing well and an existing site.

"We have drilled eight wells safely at our two Kirby Misperton sites, all of which took longer, with greater traffic movements and were more complex than the proposed fracks at KM8."

This exploratory drilling revealed potential gas reserves in the sandstone and shale. Fracking, or 'hydraulic fracturing', would involve 'stimulating' the gas flow by 'opening up fractures' in the rock, using pressurised water.

A spokesperson for Frack Free Ryedale, the organisation opposing Third Energy's plans, said: "It is not surprising that the NYCC have been forced to ask Third Energy for further information, given that the company's application is so full of holes and lacks clarity in key areas such as noise, traffic, water, wildlife protection and landscape.

"The numerous problems raised by the council calls into question Third Energy's ability to perform this test-frack successfully, and will only increase the concerns of local people, the vast majority of whom are united in fighting this development."