Regarding the proposal by Moorland Energy Limited to construct a pipeline and gas processing facility at Hurrell Lane, Thornton-le-Dale.

We wish to object in the strongest possible terms to the planning application.

We live very close to the site chosen by Moorland Energy to build their sour gas processing plant.

Our concerns are:

1. Visual Amenity: The visual amenity of the Vale of Pickering will be forever damaged if this work is allowed to proceed. We do not believe that any screening, not least that proposed in the planning application, would adequately screen this eyesore.

It will be tens of years before newly planted trees will reach the required height, and until then the plant will be visually intrusive.

This is a predominantly farming and tourism based community and such a development would be completely out of character. Although not in the National Park, it must have a detrimental impact on the park.

2. Pollution: This is a quiet, tranquil, rural area. The effect of the noise, vibration, dust and odour on the local area will be immense. In addition, there will be light spill from the 24-hour operation of the plant. This will adversely affect all who live, not only in Thornton-le-Dale, but also Wilton and Allerston. The closest residents to the proposed plant are elderly people who may be more likely to suffer adverse effects from pollutants.

3. Safety and security: The planning application gives very little priority to security and safety.

4. Environmental Issues: An environmental impact survey was undertaken on two occasions in October and November, 2009. At best, this is inadequate and unrepresentative. Those of us who regularly walk the lanes and footpaths in the proposed area are very well aware of the wealth of wildlife, both flora and fauna, to be found all year round.

We are also aware that winter is not usually the optimal time to observe it. It goes without saying that a large scale industrial development will destroy wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

5. Effect on tourism: Tourism is the lifeblood of the local community and Thornton-le-Dale is fortunate to benefit from many visitors who return year after year.

Who will want to visit a village that is blighted by an unsightly, smelly and potentially dangerous industrial plant? Moorland Energy makes much of the employment opportunities that the gas plant will generate, but in reality the number of jobs available to local people is unlikely to be more than two or three. These will be more than offset by the local jobs lost when businesses allied to tourism fail as a direct result of the plant.

6. Traffic: The disruption during construction of the proposed plant will be enormous. The extra construction traffic in addition to the normal traffic along the A170 will make an already busy and dangerous road far worse.

7. Contribution of the project: The sour gas plant will make a minimal contribution to the country’s energy needs, and the damage to the local area must surely outweigh this tiny benefit.

8. Dangerous planning precedents: Many residents of Thornton Dale who have applied in vain for planning permission are well aware of the building restrictions placed on them in order to preserve the character of the village.

The chances of an ordinary resident successfully gaining planning permission to build on this green field site must be nil.

Do not create a dangerous precedent by allowing Moorland Energy to build a large industrial monstrosity on this site of natural beauty, thus destroying the character of the local area.

Moorland Energy are based 250 miles away. They have made little attempt to engage with the local district council and seem to have no regard for the local people, the local economy or the environment.

Please do not let them ruin our village. Reject this planning application.

Alison and Stephen Williams, Thornton-le-Dale