Engineers have been given the go ahead to search for oil and natural gas below the fields of East Yorkshire. Councilors have backed the plans, which could lead to the first use in Britain of the fossil fuel coal bed methane.

Scottish engineering company Composite Energy had approached East Riding of Yorkshire Council with its plans, for a site off Long Lane in Market Weighton. The authority’s planning committee yesterday unanimously backed the proposals, with little debate.

Composite Energy now intends to set up a temporary rig and borehole to find and extract CBM, in a bid to help keep pace with rising demand for natural gas. Demand is predicted to rise by 15% over the next decade and cannot be met by current offshore gas supplies.

In a written report to the committee meeting, council officer Mr Darren Hendley said that "This temporary development is important to establish whether there are commercial quantities of coal bed methane available underground within the coal layers that could be exploited as a new energy resource for the nation."

Under the plans, Composite Energy would drill on a 24 hour basis, with operations lasting about 28 days and no more than 60 days. The firm plans to build a rectangular compound of 55 metres by 70 metres and drill a borehole of 1,800 feet.

Local parish councils objected to the plans, saying the 18 meter rig would be an eyesore. They also feared the drilling would lead to noise and the site had inadequate road links.

(Sourced from www.yorkpress.co.uk)