CHURCH leaders representing several different faiths have met with Third Energy to question the company about the fracking operation at Kirby Misperton.

The group of faith leaders working in Ryedale made a request to the company after director of operations John Dewar invited those with genuine concerns about the fracking plans to discuss them with him while being interviewed on television.

Writing to Mr Dewar, the group explained that – with the exception of the Quakers – their respective churches’ positions were neither in favour of fracking nor opposed, but based on “legitimate local concerns to be fully heard and addressed”.

The letter stated: “We would like to discuss the regulatory challenges around fracking, the way Third Energy intends to deal with issues such as transport demand, water, lorries on small roads, the potential visual impacts on the countryside and mitigating impacts on tourism.

The Bishop of Selby the Right Reverend Dr John Thomson said: “We were grateful for the opportunity to meet people from Third Energy and talk directly with them about the impact of their plans on real people’s lives – including everything from traffic levels to tourism as well as long-term environmental concerns.“They were keen to listen and responded in depth to the questions and concerns we raised; in the light of this we would urge further and ongoing engagement between Third Energy and the local community if they are to demonstrate the care they are prepared to take as they develop their plans.” Other members of the group included the Church of England’s Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, the Catholic Bishop of Middlesbrough, the Rt Revd Terry Drainey, The Rev Janine Atkinson from the United Reformed Church and Paul Elliott from Ryedale Quakers.