After taking legal advice, Lomas said he had given the EA 14 days to revoke permission for the operation at the West Newton site.
If it did not, he said he would “seek a judicial review in the courts”, arguing the decision to approve the operation was unlawful.
“I don’t have confidence in the Environment Agency’s decision to grant this latest permission and I am prepared to go to court to make this point,” he said.
Rathlin Energy said the EA’s decision “followed an extensive and rigorous development, assessment and consultation process that spanned almost two years. This included two long stages of public consultation, inviting full scrutiny and comments of all submitted documentation and the Agency’s draft decision.”
Responding to concerns about the environmental impact, the company said: “Rathlin Energy (UK) Limited has operated in East Yorkshire for over 15 years, with a strong track record of safe and compliant exploration. We remain committed to working within a robust regulatory framework and to delivering projects that contribute positively to the UK’s energy needs.”
