YP Letters: Our beautiful coast in fracking's danger zone

From: Sylvia Milner, Spring Lane, Bempton.
The RSPB nature reserve at Bempton.The RSPB nature reserve at Bempton.
The RSPB nature reserve at Bempton.

I WAS shocked to learn that fracking for shale gas could occur close to the internationally important RSPB Bempton Cliffs reserve, where thousands of seabirds including gannets, kittiwakes, puffins, guillemots and fulmars nest each year.

Large parts of North and East Yorkshire, including the spectacular coastline, could be affected by fracking. Bridlington, Bempton, Filey and Scarborough are all in areas licensed by the Government for fracking exploration. Companies with a licence can do seismic testing and then apply for planning permission to drill wells to carry out high volume hydraulic fracturing of the shale rock which lies 7,000 to 10,000ft beneath the ground.

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A mixture of water, chemicals and sand is pumped down the well at high pressure to create cracks in the shale.

This allows the gas to travel up the well to the surface, along with contaminated waste water, which has to be removed in tankers. East Yorkshire’s water supply, which is from a large underground aquifer, could be contaminated. High volume hydraulic fracking for shale gas is currently banned in many countries, including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and France. Why is our Goverment allowing it?