More news will follow here as it unfolds - watch this space...!

*** 30th August 2011 ***

County Councillors agree a resounding NO !!! to the Sour Gas Project

The public Gallery of the Grand Meeting Room at County Hall was packed with AGHAST! supporters last Tuesday to hear Councillors debate the proposals and form a view on whether permission should be granted.

In the debate, Councillor after Councillor denounced the plans as grossly inappropriate and the final vote was 100% unanimous in our favour.

Moorland Energy made a stronger performance than we have seen from them so far, though could still offer not a single local person to speak in favour of their plans.

Although the Secretary of State will now have the final say, this decision was seen as absolutely vital for the ongoing strength of our campaign, and we hope this will be repeated in a couple of weeks time, when the National Park Authority hold their decision Meeting at Helmsley.

*** 20th August 2011 ***

AGHAST! Granted Rule 6 Status

On 11th August the Planning Inspectorate granted  AGHAST!  "Rule 6(6) Status" under the Town & Country planning regulations.

This provides our campaign group with official recognition as a party that will be involved in the Public Inquiry, and will grant us access to all the documentation and reasoning behind the case of the Apellant, and gives us the opportunity to cross-examine the evidence put forward.

Thanks to some very generous public contributions we are able to go forward into the Inquiry with some sound legal advice from a respected solicitor who has specialisms in administrative and public law, commercial property and planning law.

There remains much work to be done, but we are confident of a sound, reasoned case for the rejection of Moorland Energy's proposals.

*** 27th July 2011 ***

RYEDALE DISTRICT COUNCIL REJECTS MOORLAND'S PLANS

On 27th July Ryedale District Council's planning committee met to discuss the plans at a consultation meeting. Several speakers gave addresses to the council in support of our campaign, including Tom Chadwick, chair of the North Yorkshire Moors Association.

No-one from Moorland Energy turned up to the meeting, and Moorland could find not even a single local resident to stand up and fill the speaking slot allocated for supporters of their plans.

The council voted unanimously to object strongly to the planning application.

*** 23rd July 2011 ***

PUBLIC INQUIRY ANNOUNCED

Moorland Energy have finally lost patience with our planners and now want to have their Gas Plant plans approved not locally, but by the Secretary of State, in Westminster.

A Pulic Inquiry will now take place from October 25th this year, and is expected to last three weeks, with a decision by the Secretary of State due early next year.

Read more here.

*** 28th January 2011 ***

THE YEAR OF DECISION?

We expect the Planning Authorities to consider this issue sometime in the next few months. Your support now is vital. Please continue to write in your letters of objection (hundreds of you already have) and to contribute to our petition in order to demonstrate our commitment to preserving the character of our villages.

We wish all our supporters a happy new year, and for the planning decisions, may common sense prevail !

*** 20th August 2010 ***

A FRESH NEW LOOK TO OUR WEBSITE !

We have updated our site and we hope you like the clean new look, with important information now easier to find.

Please feel free to take a look around!

*** 6th July 2010 ***

MOORLAND ENERGY CHARM OFFENSIVE FALLS FLAT

The company recently conducted (at the request of the Planning Authority, we understand) a survey of local businesses to find out just how concerned our firms are about the impact on the tourism economy the development will have.

Well, the survey has now been published; we're currently studying the results, but at first glance it seems that most survey respondents didn't tell the company what they wanted to hear, so the 'report' seems include hefty doses of the "surveyor's opinion!"

Keen to try to regain some ground, Moorland issued a press release highlighting a figure of £10 million benefit to the local economy. Of this, we're supposed to believe that £1,000,000 will be spent by construction workers during the twelve-month building phase.

ONE MILLION POUNDS!! By the company's own figures, there will be on average 56 workers on site during the building period. Do you really think they'll be spending nearly £18,000 each on food and accommodation ???!!!

 
AGHAST! raised this during a recent interview on BBC Radio York. Unfortunately, Moorland Energy could only put up their PR agent to speak to Radio York's listeners, and he didn't seem to be very well briefed.

*** 5th June 2010 ***

PUBLIC MEETING IN THORNTON-LE-DALE VILLAGE HALL

AGHAST! held an informative public meeting to discuss the isses raised by this development.

Over 200 people packed into the hall - it was standing room only.

There was a short presentation,  with several speakers covering various areas that are of concern to residents (and visitors alike!). Contributors included fellow opposition group TAGS and representatives of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

This was followed by a lively session of questions and answers, then a time for refreshment and informal discussion, and information sharing.

Invitations were sent to all village households, and it was very pleasing to see such an impressive turnout, demonstrating the concern of local residents.

*** 8th April 2010 ***

AGHAST! CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED

The campaign officially has a name; one which we think sums up how the majority of local people feel about the Ryedale Sour Gas Project.

Our petition against the project has today topped the 1,000 - signature mark. Articles in the local and regional press, together with a BBC Radio York interview are beginning to spread the word of our campaign.

*** 1st April 2010 ***

MOORLAND ENERGY SUBMIT PLANNING APPLICATIONS TO NATIONAL PARK AND COUNTY COUNCIL

Please prepare to write letters of objection to North Yorkshire County Council and the North York Moors National Park Authority about the Ryedale Sour Gas Project.

The planning application will take several working days to be "validated", and once this is done, it will be deemed to have been "received".

*** 5th & 6th March 2010 ***

MOORLAND ENERGY LIMITED HOLD THEIR "PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS"

Despite claims by the company that all households in the village were informed about the upcoming meetings, we have met precisely no-one who actually received an invitation through their letterbox.

Instead, a pile of leaflets was dumped in a local shop, and as a consequence, only a few people heard that the exhibition was to take place in the Village Hall, and at Allerston, and Moorland had a predictably easy weekend.

It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that this was a cynical move to deny residents the opportunity to hear about this vitally important issue.