The benefits that high quality, accessible green infrastructure brings to local communities have been well proven. Green spaces provide neighbourhoods with a place for social interaction, a space for physical activity, a sanctuary to support mental wellbeing to name but a few.
While Third Energy has got its planning permission, it is clear that it has failed to obtain a social licence from the local community. The sentiment of those living in Ryedale was overwhelmingly against shale gas development. Their understandable concerns were about the cumulative impact that widespread commercial shale development might have on the North Yorkshire landscape, but we are a long way away from that.