YP Letters: Fracking on an industrial scale planned

From Sue Cuthbert, Newton on Rawcliffe.
Anti-fracking protesters at Kirby Misperton.Anti-fracking protesters at Kirby Misperton.
Anti-fracking protesters at Kirby Misperton.

I COMPLETELY agree with all that Derek Chapman says in his letter (The Yorkshire Post, January 9) over fracking and I am also a resident of Ryedale.

The company Third Energy, which has applied to frack their well near Kirby Misperton, is only one of many who have their sights set on Ryedale.

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The much larger international company, Ineos Shale, hopes to explore for shale gas across one million acres which includes Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire. They have 15 PEDL licences in Ryedale alone

We are constantly being told that they need to do this to provide energy for people.

I believe that the general public are being misled because Ineos need shale gas for the production of plastics.

As the Government, quite rightly, is cutting down on the use of plastic bags, more plastic must not be encouraged.

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Hugh rafts of plastics are causing dangerous pollution in our oceans. It breaks down and finds its way into the food chain.

It only takes one fracked well to start the industrialisation of our countryside.

Outdated thinking

From: Colin Foster, Scalby Beck Road, Scarborough.

CHEERS to Colin Speakman for so boldly stating the obvious about transport planning (The Yorkshire Post, January 9). Current proposals for airport expansion and road developments fly in the face of urgent environmental concerns. They are as daft as someone overweight stuffing themselves with burgers and chips.

Why are there plans to develop the inconvenient Leeds Bradford Airport when there is underused capacity not far away at Doncaster? Why are we encouraging air travel anyway, when it is the most polluting form of transport?

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Why build an expensive road tunnel to connect both sides of the Pennines when an improved railway network with more line capacity, for which there is space, and longer trains would carry the travelling public at a fraction of the cost?

I think the answer lies in the short-term attitudes of our politicians who look to easy vote-catching solutions rather than long-term planning.

There also seems to be a deep antagonism in HM Treasury towards investment in public transport that goes back to the days of British Rail. Why else did the Leeds plans for rapid transport systems fail to achieve Government backing?

Forty or more years ago, Leeds was proudly promoting itself as ‘Motorway City’ on its postal franking. This now outdated thinking of car-borne convenience continues to hinder any progress with public transport schemes that could benefit our urban spaces and the wider environment. It won’t change so long as vested interests in the motoring lobby continue to influence public opinion and political will.

Red line on parking

From: Dick Spreadbury, Liversedge.

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I HAVE an idea for addressing the problems of childhood obesity, parking mayhem around schools and cash-strapped councils.

Red line road markings for a 300m radius centred on all schools. Charge parents £52 a year for a pick up / drop off permit.

The result? Kids would have to walk to school (horror), or at least walk 600m a day. Councils (or schools) would get some money to spend on their vanity projects or the bare necessities.

Vision in the age of Trump

From: Robert Reynolds, West Bank, Batley.

AS we await the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, it is an appropriate time to look back and ponder. Our world is, once again, ruled by pygmies. Politicians who know and understand nothing, with the courage to do little. As our world cries out for leadership and deliverance, we get more mediocrity.

Yet in adversity we have always found a saviour.

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In 1933, America elected a President who understood how the world worked.

If you do not understand where we are, but care about where we are going, read that speech.

It is relevant today as ever, because “when there is no vision the people will perish”.

Concerns over spread of Islam

From: Canon Michael Storey, Healey Wood Road, Brighouse.

LIKE the Reverend Peter Mullen (The Yorkshire Post, January 10), I am also “at odds” with some of the contents of Qari Aslam’s article (The Yorkshire Post, January 3).

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Islam is a faith intended to be spread worldwide – these days its adherents are far more zealous than Christians are for spreading their faith. Sadly, as Mr Mullen pointed out, there are many elements of worldwide Islam causing untold suffering in many parts of the world.

Christianity’s Second Commandment is “Love your neighbour”; I wonder how the second commandment of Islam is worded?

Café caller gets cut off

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

PICTURE a York café queue; ahead of us a large, yapping hat; ahead of the hat a sign ‘Our café is mobile phone-free’; the hat took the hint.

Ten minutes passed; the now seated hat erupted once again. Like a genie out of a bottle, a man appeared and courteously, but firmly ushered the protesting hat off the premises.

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Could that genie have been Neil McNicholas (The Yorkshire Post, January 10)?

If so, I hope he heard the universal murmer of approval and thanks as normal conversation resumed.

Father Neil’s idea of a bucket 
is irresistible; I might start carrying one.