I WONDER if those who objected to the wind farm development close to East Helserton will be so concerned at a fracking application being proposed by Third Energy in Kirby Misperton? Given a choice, I know which I would chose.

This appears to be a political decision supported by a high court judge. The fact Eric Pickles has turned down applications to build 19 onshore wind farms in just over a year has been attributed to trying to shore-up wavering Conservative voters in the party’s rural heartlands (a claim by senior LibDem members).

If we don’t like wind farms because, apparently, they don’t look right and they’ll spoil the view, then how do we feel about the prospect of fracking wells? Do we, the people of Ryedale, want to be used as guinea pigs as suggested on a recent BBC report? Do we want to have clean renewable energy sources or would we prefer to continue with fracking?

A quick check on reliable sources on the internet will show that evidence is mounting that fracking isn’t problem-free.

An extensive study of commissioned by the European Union revealed, “Risks of surface and ground water contamination, water resource depletion, air and noise emissions, land take, disturbance to biodiversity and impacts related to traffic are deemed to be high in the case of cumulative projects".

I live in West Heslerton, and like others living locally, was willing to look at and accept the wind farm. I don’t want to see fracking two miles away.

As the Green Party candidate for the Thirsk & Malton constituency I, along with many Ryedale residents, will be actively campaigning to stop fracking. I will be pressing for the development of clean and renewable sources of energy and for helping to reduce our energy consumption by making our homes more energy efficient.

Chris Newsam, West Heslerton