Rathlin Energy claims its proposal to drill an oil and gas exploration well into the shale layer at Ballinlea, in Co Antrim will have "no significant impacts" on the surrounding area.

The Canadian company has applied for planning permission to construct an exploratory borehole to a depth of 2,700m on the proposed site which lies half way between Ballintoy Harbour and the Dark Hedges.

Exploration licence

Rathlin Energy was initially awarded an exploration licence in the North in 2008, it has previously said it is convinced there is potential for “an indigenous energy industry based on local oil and gas in Northern Ireland”.

It has submitted a new environmental impact assessment report to support its application to drill into the shale layer at Ballinlea.

In the report it maintains there will be “no significant impacts” when it comes to the landscape, noise levels, ecology, water quality or public health from its proposed exploration project.

It does, however, concede that significant earthworks and dust has the potential to affect the ecological make-up of the area and that aquatic flora and fauna might also be affected because of changes to water chemistry. The North’s Planning Service had sought the environmental impact assessment after ruling that there could be “significant environmental impacts”.

No reassurance

Local lobby group Protect Our North Coast said its members are concerned about the potential impact of the project on public health and said the Rathlin Energy report provided them with no reassurance.

Forty-three homes are within half a mile of the proposed well site and it said it was particularly concerned that the company saw no need to monitor possible health side effects.