COUNCILLORS are being urged to approve controversial plans for a gas pipeline through North Yorkshire in the face of 150 objections, some fearing it will open the door to ‘fracking’.

Those opposed to the scheme warn the plan sets a precedent and claim it could lead to water contamination, earthquakes and pollution.

But North Yorkshire County Council planning officers say the scheme doesn’t propose the use of ‘fracking’ techniques and that studies found no significant risks to water pollution or land stability.

Members of the authority’s planning committee meet today to consider the scheme by Third Energy and Moorland Energy, which combines and alters existing planning approvals given after a public inquiry.

They want to extract natural gas from an existing test borehole at Ebbertston Moor South, near Malton and build a second borehole for water and re-injection.

A 13km underground pipeline would also be built taking the gas to an existing power station at Knapton.

Developers say work would take around eight months, providing 50 jobs during construction and three jobs on completion, with gas supplies expected to last around 15 years.

An 80-page report is being considered by the committee.