I HAVE just read the letter ‘Wake up to progress’ from B Molyneux.

I do not claim to be an expert in this.

I understood that coal was mined in seams accessed by tunnels which meant that there were supports every so often.

From information read in the press and seen on television, fracking is done by putting down boreholes, then water and sand is put in under pressure to fracture rock formations to release gas.

This is ‘blanket’ removal, so what fills the gap when the gas is released.

Surely this leaves the ground open to movement.

I think some questions have to be asked.

Out of all the country how many fracking sites are near to a Government MP’s home?

Can anyone give us any figures on this? I think that people of this country have short memories.

Some years ago oil and gas was discovered in the North Sea.

The Government of the time announced: “We are now self sufficient in oil and gas.”

This was followed by all the gas appliances in the country being converted to natural gas.

Shortly afterwards the government sold all the gas and oil supplies to America and look what happened to prices here.

So do we believe all we are told about fracking? Is this really progress?

I have worked in the oil and gas industry all my life.

I am now a pensioner struggling to pay my gas and electricity bills, so where does this self-sufficient come in?

So beware of what you are told about fracking.

If gas is found who will own it and what will happen to the contaminated water used to extract it?

CONCERNED
Tyldesley