A shale gas fracking project won approval in Britain for the first time since 2011 on Monday as councillors in Yorkshire gave the go-ahead to a plan slammed by greens and locals. After listening to arguments for and against the scheme as protesters gathered outside, the North Yorkshire County Council voted 7-4 in favour of allowing the fracking to go ahead.
"This is by far the most controversial application that we have ever had to deal with," committee chairman Peter Sowray said.
The committee had received 4,375 objections to the plan by British firm Third Energy and 36 submissions supporting it.
In 2011, tests found the technique of blasting water, sand and chemicals underground to release oil and gas had likely caused minor earthquakes in north west England.
Locals had expressed fears that the fracking could damage the area's tourist industry, contaminate water supplies, hurt wildlife, cause earthquakes and contribute to global climate change. But Third Energy said it had a strong record in the area and would be using a well two miles deep that was drilled in 2013 and that had already been in operation.
"Third Energy has been drilling wells, producing gas and generating electricity safely and discreetly in North Yorkshire for over 20 years and we will continue to maintain the same responsible approach in the future," chief executive Rasik Valand said.