MORE than 200 residents packed Thornton-le-Dale’s village hall to voice their opposition to the planned £50 million gas plant, earmarked for the tourist beauty spot.

Richard Davies, a biology teacher, labelled the environmental impact study carried out by Moorland Energy, the company behind the controversial scheme, as “a shoddy piece of work”, adding that it had been carried out in the autumn and winter months and not when the flora, fauna and wildlife were around.

There were, he said, prime nesting sites for barn owls as well as habitats of other wild animals in the area of the proposed site, in Hurrell Lane.

Adam White, leader of the AGHAST group – Against Having Sour Gas in Thornton – told the meeting on Saturday that 4,200 people had now signed petitions against the scheme, which is due to be discussed by North Yorkshire County Council later this year, Jerry Scarr of the TAGS (Technicians Against Gas Site) protest group, said: “It is not a question of NIMBY-ism – not in my back yard – but concerns about chemicals and smells.”

He warned that Moorland Energy could look for other sites in the area in the future because the life expectancy of the Thornton-le-Dale site was 25 years.

Graham Bilton, a local resident, said: “The plant will be a monstrosity. It will be seen over a wide area of Ryedale – it is not just a Thornton problem.”

County Coun Ron Haigh said a public meeting was being planned which would be attended by county planning officers and fire service representatives.

“We will look at all aspects of the scheme,” he assured residents.

Mr White claimed the plant will produce only two-tenths of one per cent of the national gas supply, and added that figures showed that the demand for gas was now “flat” and would remain so for the next decade.

After the meeting, Moorland Energy spokesman Douglas Adamson said the plant would be subject to stringent health and safety regulations. It will be screened by the old railway embankment and mature trees, he said.

He went on: “There was certainly a number of misrepresentations made at the meeting.”

Any flares would be at ground level and not from a high chimney, he said. The plant had to be sited within distance of the main high pressure pipeline at Ebberston, he added.