YP Letters: Will MP join battle against fracking?

From: Dr Simon Sweeney, Senior Lecturer International Political Economy, The York Management School, University of York.
Protesters outside County Hall in Northallerton.Protesters outside County Hall in Northallerton.
Protesters outside County Hall in Northallerton.

GIVEN the interest in shale gas exploitation in Ryedale, it is not surprising that Kevin Hollinrake MP has taken a close interest in the industry. But, sadly, he has appeared to support energy companies rather than his constituents opposed to fracking.

Mr Hollinrake has, however, sought various assurances from the Government. He asked for a single regulator for the industry, and an industry- sponsored bond to pay for cleaning up abandoned wells if gas companies ceased trading.

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He asked for minimum distances from residential homes, and for regional plans regarding fracking. He asked for guidelines on well density. In every case the answer has been negative. There are no assurances. Perhaps Mr Hollinrake will now join the campaign against fracking.

We should focus on conservation and developing renewable energy sources. We cannot risk worsening the impact from climate change by exploiting new sources of fossil fuel.

From: Christine McDade Morton on Swale, North Yorkshire.

I WAS on holiday in France when the decision to allow fracking at Kirby Misperton was announced by North Yorkshire County Council planning committee.

French neighbours ran round to tell us to switch on the television as the decision was on French national news. We did and were amazed to see the long, detailed coverage given to the matter, showing County Hall in Northallerton and protesters dismayed at the decision.

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I am dismayed at this decision, along with all the protestors at County Hall. I have very many happy memories of being a police officer stationed at Malton and the beautiful Kirby Misperton area.

From: Andrew Mercer, Guiseley.

I’M afraid the fracking argument was lost because opponents did not put forward valid planning reasons, instead concentrating on matters outside North Yorkshire County Council’s jurisdiction. That is what 
the NYCC decision was based upon.

Realities over power supply

From: Dr Bev Wilkinson, White Grove, Roundhay, Leeds.

IN his ‘wind of change’ piece (The Yorkshire Post, June 15), one can only assume that Beverley MP Graham Stuart was focused on gaining ‘brownie points’ from his green lobby constituents rather than addressing the economic reality of our national power supply.

First, he makes no distinction between temporary, unreliable supply such as wind power and reliable and predictable supply from power stations. Over the last fortnight for example, wind power generation has varied from around one per cent to 20 per cent. This creates major management problems for the grid where the reliable sources have to be geared up, or worse, forced to gear down – hence drastically reducing their efficiency. The more turbines we get, the more erratic the system becomes.

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Regarding the claim that renewable sources are ‘keeping energy costs down’, one scratches one’s head for the evidence.

Nobody doubts the desirability of gradually reducing our carbon emissions, but to advocate rushing ahead of other countries is at best naive and at worst plain stupid.

No tears for job haters

From: H. Marjorie Gill, Clarence Drive, Menston,

HEADLINE news – many 40-year-olds don’t like their jobs! Well I never, should we shed a tear? Why don’t they go to the Job Centre and ask for a job they would enjoy doing? If they are not trained for such a job, perhaps they could go to night school and train for such a position.

Of course, if the only job they fancy is as an airline pilot or a film star, then they have to grow up and tackle the job they are working at and try to get promotion to a more demanding and interesting position.

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Of course if they don’t like work anyway, that is tough, but food has to be paid for and holidays saved up for, so work is the only thing to do.

Battle over green belt

From: Judith Wanstall, Horbury.

I AM very concerned that the green belt separating Horbury and South Ossett is going to be eroded severely if planning permission is granted to the application already in. There are brownfield sites which would be far better use of land.

There have already been over 600 objections to the application, which shows the level of opposition. Please join us.

Tram tracks way forward

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

LEEDS Council leader Judith Blake’s euphoria over the Victoria Gate development is shared by many of us (The Yorkshire Post, June 15). There is a further “opportunity to revitalise the Eastgate area” and elsewhere, by the long-delayed laying of tram tracks; thus giving a clean, smooth-running alternative to the private car.

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