DO we have to wait for disaster before fracking is banned? “Fracking has insufficient regulations and poor monitoring,” says Mike Hill, chartered engineer on his shalegasoffice website.

Our pro-fracking MP said two days after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy: “Safety regulations are higher than they have ever been.”

Well, they are either insufficient or not monitored, just like Mike Hill details is happening with fracking.

Residents in the tower repeatedly said they feared a disaster before they were listened to. This is what we fear in Ryedale, a disaster to our health.

And are we trusting this same government to protect us from the water and air pollution that has dogged the health of residents an areas of fracking in Australia and the US?

The cladding used on that building was banned in high rises in America, and maybe banned here too, so claims the Chancellor Philip Hammond. There are aspects of our regulations and monitoring that are worse, not better, than America. Even Conservative and Ukip voters, whose combined vote share went down by almost five per cent in the Thirsk and Malton constituency, don’t seem all that keen on fracking.

Certainly most local councillors from right across the political spectrum in Ryedale now say they oppose fracking. It’s time fracking is stopped now before it is too late.

Ian Conlan, Malton

Unsupported claim

I NOTE with interest the speed with which the pro-fracking lobby was out to claim that somehow Ryedale now supports shale gas extraction.

The General Election was not a referendum on fracking, it was a national election and people in Ryedale will have voted for candidates for a variety of reasons (their ability to manage the economy; their desire to protect the NHS; whether they were for or against Brexit; because they have always voted for that party etc).

To suggest that the election of Kevin Hollinrake was a ringing endorsement of fracking by the local population is completely unsupported by evidence and a desperate attempt by the pro-fracking lobby to claim support for their cause.

We shouldn’t, however, be surprised by this, as experience to date suggests that the pro-fracking lobby never let evidence get in the way of their advocacy for this environmentally destructive and reprehensible industry.

David Beeson, Pickering

Going loopy

HOW I support Peter Bell of Slingsby (Gazette, letters) in his disgust at the annoying antics of the “Dick Dastardly” aerobatics pilot.

Whenever there is a clear summer day which people wish to enjoy in their gardens, do we have to put up with the whining noise from the engine of the aerobatics by-plane?

Over and over again is the drone and whine forced upon residents. Not only do they fly over North Yorkshire, but also Stamford Bridge, Catton and Pocklington, in East Yorkshire. There is nothing more pleasant on a summer day than to listen to the birds sing. That is not possible due to the selfish enjoyment of this stunt pilot.

These aerobatics above our villages are not a new occurrence and have been happening for a number of years.

It is time it ceased. I heard that the pilot came from South Yorkshire, although I am not sure if this is correct. If they wish to continue with their antics perhaps they should consider “looping the loop” over the North Sea where it shouldn’t affect so many people as it does here.

Brian Kilburn, High Catton

So saddened

I AM a resident of Malton and recently had some overseas family staying with me.

I took them for a walk through Orchard Fields to show them some of the history attached to this town and was saddened to see most of the signs displaying its history back to the Roman times were either in a state of disrepair or else impossible to read.

Surely someone should be responsible for the upkeep of these signs. A lot of money I guess is spent on the publicity of the food market to make Malton a place to visit, but not its history.

The state of the Orchard Fields signs was an embarrassment.

Lynette Palmer, Malton

Thanks for cash

MEMBERS of Trinity Methodist Church, Norton, wish to extend a big thank you to all those people who attended our summer fair on Saturday, June 17 and were so generous with their giving.

A total of more than £1,300 was raised on behalf of church funds and for the Martin House Hospice Charity.

Ena Hoyle, summer fair organiser, Norton Trinity Methodist Church