One of the biggest news stories in Whitby over the past year has been the proposals for a 'Hydrogen Village'. If Whitby was selected and the plans went forward, it would see many households in the area transition towards hydrogen fuel for domestic energy.
Local Conservative candidates Brian Anderson and Luke Sharples have been speaking to local residents about their views on the plans.
In a joint statement, they have said:
It’s essential that we explore all viable options to reduce our use of traditional fossil fuels.
However, local residents must be consulted at every stage to ensure there is clear consent for any changes to domestic energy supply.
Whilst there has been engagement and consultation from the energy company, too many residents feel that their voice has not been heard.
Local Conservatives are calling for an independent ballot of all affected Whitby residents on whether to move forward with the Hydrogen Village plan. This should take place before any decision is made about the adoption of hydrogen and the project should only go ahead with the explicit support of local residents.
Brian and Luke have written to the responsible energy company to state the importance of an independently administered ballot to ensure local residents' views determine the next steps.
