GAS company Third Energy has said it may not commence its test-frack at Kirby Misperton until the autumn.

The company is moving more equipment from their Kirby Misperton well-site while they await final permission to frack.

A spokesperson said that the process will take some time and that some of the equipment has been moved into Europe for use there.

They added that, following conversations with police and local authorities, they would aim to avoid the busy summer months which will see lots of activity at nearby Flamingo Land, and the harvest.

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Moving equipment

Some key equipment has already been "temporarily released" from the site, including the workover rig, well test unit and the coil tubing unit.

This morning, in an operational note, the company have revealed they're also moving the tanks holding fresh water which would be used for the fracks, and, "to reduce the visual impact" of the site, they're also removing the top level of the noise attenuation barrier, the special acoustic panels and the scaffold supporting them.

The "hydraulic frac spread" itself remains on location.

On completion of the final HGV movements associated with these operations, Third Energy will be re-opening the temporarily closed footpath running from the Habton Road to Alma Farm.

Alan Linn, chief operating officer, said: “As we work through the final government approvals for the frack project we think it is very important that residents in the Kirby Misperton area see their lives return to normal.

"We consider re-opening the footpath and significantly reducing the height of the sound barrier are positive step towards this."

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'Follow our lead'

Mr Linn also asked that the protestors at the 'forward protection camp' on Habton Road leave the site, as the nearby Kirby Misperton Protection Camp has recently decided to do.

He said: "We now expect the protestors camping on the grass verges in Habton Road to follow our lead and that of their fellow activists and leave the area.

"Given their self-declared environmental protection credentials, we expect the clean-up of both the grass verges and the Flamingo Land field will return the land and sub-soil to its original condition.

"Working to anything less than the standards of restoration and environmental protection required of Third Energy would demonstrate double standards on the part of the protestors."

A spokesperson from the KMPC responded: "Third Energy aren’t very good at listening to the community, so we will repeat, again - we are only here as long as they are a threat.

"The Kirby Misperton Protection Community is working to return the field to its former state. We’re glad the community of Kirby Misperton can enjoy at least another seven frack-free months. If Third Energy decide to return, they can expect us."