Fracking firm's Woodsetts plan recommended for refusal

Rotherham Borough Council’s planning board is set to vote on Ineos Shale’s proposal next Thursday.

A report has recommended the members reject the application — for a 2,800-metre vertical well on Dinnington Road — on environmental grounds.

It said: “The council considers that the supporting ecological information provided with the application is deficient to determine the application. 

“The application site area lies approximately 25 metres from Dewidales Ancient Woodlands.

“The applicant has submitted insufficient evidence to justify this limited buffer protection area. 

“The council further notes that due to the lack of an adequate bat, badger and breeding bird survey, it cannot fully assess the potential future adverse impact on the adjacent wildlife and ecology.

“Accordingly the applicant has not sufficiently demonstrated that the development can satisfactorily mitigate the potential for harm to the ecology of the surrounding rural environment.”

Ineos’ application for a similar drilling operation in Harthill will be heard at a public inquiry later this year after the firm by-passed the local planning process.