I am concerned about the fracking issue and avoided taking a view until I had looked at both sides.

I attended a public meeting organised by Frack Free Ryedale. I do not know how exaggerated this was (if at all), but it did seem to me that if only one 10th of what we were told was true, fracking in this district would have a catastrophic impact.

I asked if the energy firms had been given the opportunity to attend and put their point of view. I was told that Third Energy had been invited, but had refused. This surprised me, because I know that however bad Ryedale people may feel about anything, they usually give everyone a fair hearing.

Although I had been persuaded, I still felt I wanted to hear the opposite view. The opportunity came at a meeting of parish representatives, which was addressed by the head of North Yorkshire’s planning services, who said she was giving a factual view. My impression was that this “factual” presentation was designed to allay public fears. So, I put to her some of the things I had heard at the anti-fracking public meeting. The answers I received were far from satisfactory.

I asked if it was true that fracking wells are not usually for a single borehole, but that to be viable there had to be several wells per square mile. I was not given a categoric denial, but was told this would depend on the planning application.

I asked if it was true that fracking wells work 24/7, are lit at night, while more than 1,000 truck movements are needed to service a single well every year. I was not given a categoric denial, but was told that this would depend on the planning application.

We were told that, unlike in the US, the upper levels of each well would be encased in seven sheaves of concrete and steel, and that the casing would not crack or rupture or cause contamination of the aquifers which supply water. I asked if it was true that in the US five per cent of wells rupture or crack in the first year of operation, 25 per cent will leak within five years and 50 per cent within 15 years. She was unable to confirm or deny this.

It was emphasised that operators would have to comply with comprehensive and stringent regulations. I asked if it was true that there were no plans to increase the respective inspectorate, but that the drilling companies would be left to regulate themselves. Again, the head of planning did not know.

Other people asked questions, and, among others, it was stated that house prices had reduced in UK fracking areas. I don’t think this was denied. Rightly or wrongly I came away with the impression that a decision has already been made behind closed doors to support and promote fracking. If I am right, this is outrageous.

Frack Free Ryedale have produced some well-prepared and presented leaflets. The statements in these leaflets reflect similar comments we’ve seen in the national press. If the county council is unable to provide a fully-reasoned response to documents of this kind, no one should be under any illusion about the tragic disaster they may be leading us into.

Councillor Paul Andrews, Malton ward