DEVELOPMENTS at a gas site have prompted renewed protests.

Demonstrators have set up outside the Pickering Showground gas well in order to monitor work at the site - despite the fact that it is not being used for fracking operations.

Equipment, including a drilling rig, has recently been mobilised to the so-called PK1 well, owned by energy company Third Energy, in order to produce gas “conventionally”.

In response, the Frack-Free Ryedale group have set up a “joint monitoring operation” and a “pop-up protest” with Kirby Misperton Protection Camp at the well.

Demonstrator Susie Turton, from Pickering, said: “While we recognise that permission for work at this site is a conventional operation with no link to fracking at Kirby Misperton, we are concerned that the company is monitored so that they stick to the terms of the permission.

“We are sending a clear signal to Third Energy that we will be observing all their activity very closely, to ensure they stick to all their planning conditions.”

However, a spokesman for the Friends of Ryedale Gas Exploration (FORGE), said that as well as protesting outside the showground, protesters had “bombarded” the social media sites of some Ryedale businesses seen delivering to the site.

The spokesperson said: “The camp made five pledges when they set themselves up in a field.

“Pledge Three was that they were a sole campaign issue group only relating to fracking. The fifth said they would support local businesses.

“Targeting local companies presently supplying the conventional well works at PK1 only penalises the local workforce, their livelihoods and our local economy.”

John Dewar, operations director of Third Energy, said: “Third Energy is proud to have produced gas and energy in Ryedale for more than two decades, employing local people, supporting the local economy and honouring our commitment to operate safely and with minimal environmental impact.

“We respect the right of people to protest against our activities, but we believe that the people of North Yorkshire will not tolerate it when protesters try to prevent local suppliers benefitting from the work we have to offer them.”

The conventional gas extraction at PK1 involves a new technology which Third Energy say could boost production at the site.

Of the original estimated gas in place, only about 14 per cent has been produced to date. Third Energy believes that gas recovery could be increased to about 50 per cent by applying different technology.

Gas production is currently limited at PK1 because of water flooding the well bore.

The plan to restore production involves water being pumped out using a submersible pump at the bottom of the well, then re-injected into the Sherwood Formation, which sits above the KAF.