Actors from Scarborough and the wider coastal rebel groups say a protest will take place on Saturday, March 22nd, against plans submitted by European Oil and Gas.
The oil and gas company is about to install a 38m high gas drilling rig on the Barniston property near Scarborough as part of the “Proppant Squeeze” project filed last week.
If the plan is approved by the North Yorkshire Council, the Barniston initial scheme will test whether gas can be extracted on a commercially viable basis, and if further approval is granted, a “about 20 years” extraction could occur.
Residents and campaigners said the march through Barniston would be “a show against plans to drill for gas under local villages.”
According to organizers, the event is supported by friends from York City Unison, future UK parents, Scarborough Green Party, York City Unison, Scarborough Unity, Social Justice Party Scarborough and Earth and York Trade Council.
“We've been working hard to get into the world,” said John Atkinson, a member of Frack Free Scarborough.
“It's important to back up individual objections on the streets and with collective shows of opposition within our organization. We're going to be a force that cannot be ignored.”
Concerns and opposition have also been raised by politicians such as councillors, local councillor Alison Hume, elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire's David Skys.
However, the company says that “no one notices” because of the “small amount” of the scheme.
“As a responsible oil and gas exploration and production business, Europe is very aware of its responsibility and is mindful of the potential risks to people and the environment,” the company said in a statement to the council.
Chris Garforce of Flackfree Coastal Community said: “We are tired of falling into misinformation and praise from fossil-fueled dinosaurs, and the company plays legitimate concerns from residents about the damage to local rural and coastal environments.”
The protest is scheduled to begin at Berniston and Clawton Village Hall at 1pm on Saturday, March 22nd, and will end in March at the entrance to the proposed excavation site on Coast Road, Barniston.
As part of the proposed plan, Europe said there was a “significant increase in protests by people opposed to the exploration and production of fossil fuels.”
