Local anti-fracking campaigners celebrated after Rathlin Energy said they were pulling out of the Crawberry Hill site in Walkington.
H.E.Y. Frack Off welcomed the news saying;
“Rathlin Energy have announced their decision to leave the controversial shale gas exploration site at Crawberry Hill.”
“This is a major success in the local and national campaigns to stop fracking following setbacks for Cuadrilla in Sussex and Lancashire.”
“Rathlin’s failure to meet environmental regulations proves that only vigilance and opposition by local residents and Protectors will stop this dangerous industry.”
“It is time for MPs and local councils to unite to demand urgent action to stop further gas exploration and actively promote renewable energy on the day the Government announces fast tracking for fracking applications – which pose a direct threat to the long-term future of the region.”
Drilling started at the site between Walkington and Bishop Burton in the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2013. They drilled through the aquifer that provides over half the water used by the East Riding and Hull and then drilled right down to the Bowland shale to test for shale gas.
A combination of a Protection camp and the regular protests of local residents initially prevented work at the site. When the camp was finally removed it was at a cost of over £80,000 to the local tax payers.
In statement released Rathlin Energy said they were disappointed;
“We are disappointed that we will not be undertaking further exploration work at the Crawberry Hill site, but we will continue to work through the Liaison Committee to ensure that the local community is kept fully up to date with the works which remain to be completed.”
Some of those who have spent nearly two years fighting Rathlin Energy and staging protests gathered at the site of the entrance to celebrate the news.
H.E.Y. Frack Off say they will continue to their campaigns apposing fracking in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
