CAMPAIGNERS fighting controversial plans to build a gas plant on the edge of the North York Moors have called for the scheme to be abandoned after a North Yorkshire council voiced its objections.

Ryedale District Council’s planning committee has registered its opposition to proposals by Moorland Energy to base the facility near Thornton-le-Dale after the firm lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate over the project.

The authority said the plant would be “seriously detrimental” to the area, including the Vale of Pickering, and described it as “an unjustified alien feature”.

Its views will now be taken into account in the forthcoming inquiry, which is to be held after North Yorkshire County Council failed to reach a decision over the scheme.

The North York Moors National Park Authority has also voted to oppose the plans, and Thornton-le-Dale resident Jerry Scarr, of the Technicians Against Gas Site campaign group, said Moorland should now reconsider building the plant near Hurrell Lane.

He said: “We don’t want this gas plant at our expense, because we feel it will knock the tourism we rely on so much for six and create unemployment.

Two councils have now recommended rejection of Moorland’s application and it’s time for them to withdraw this application and reappraise their options, such as choosing a different site or looking at a joint venture with the electricity generating plant at Knapton.

“We believe Moorland are using outdated information about the amount of gas the UK imports. The country is nowhere near as dependent on gas as they are making out.”

Mr Scarr said the proposed location for the plant would make it “impossible” to screen in an effort to reduce its impact on the surrounding area.

A spokesman for Moorland Energy said: “We understand the issues which have been raised by residents and other parties, and we remain convinced of the robustness of our proposals.”

The firm has said the scheme, which was initially expected to cost £50 million, would make a “significant contribution to the local economy” through creating jobs and apprenticeships and would not harm tourism.

The planning inquiry is due to start on October 25 and last three weeks.