AS a Kirby Misperton resident who believes the country should invest in renewable energy, rather than the proliferating the gas industry, I have been trying to keep an open mind about the KM8 Third Energy fracking project and avoid being a Nimby.

Seeking a balanced assessment of pro-fracking and anti-fracking arguments to ascertain the possible effects on the village has proved frustrating due to exaggerated rhetoric from both sides.

Despite community meetings with Third Energy, monitoring agencies and the police, as well as visiting the protection camp and researching the internet, it still feels like we are an experiment.

Third Energy’s community meeting on August 31 was generally informative if defensive.

Great store has been set on the perceived robustness of the UK’s planning and monitoring process compared with elsewhere.

Questions put to the various monitoring agencies were answered openly and knowledgeably, giving a feeling of positivity and genuine interest in our concerns, however they admitted their powers are limited and rely on honest self-monitoring.

NYCC was noticeably absent, which was disappointing given their importance in the planning process and resulted in unanswered questions.

With the KM8 project being so pivotal, the village is probably lucky that there is such scrutiny.

It remains to be seen whether the experiment will result in disaster and compromise future developments, or open the way for nationwide fracking.

In the meantime the village feels extremely vulnerable as the transport plan has now been agreed and we await an influx of vehicles.

Only time will tell whether the planning process and monitoring protects us.

Hazel Winter, Kirby Misperton

Anger over litter

WHAT kind of country do we live in when litter louts think it acceptable to throw rubbish close to other people’s homes?

On Sunday at 4pm, I walked through my home village of Settrington, near Malton.

In the half mile from the end of the village to Sparrow Hall crossroads I collected a heap of litter.

The majority of the cans and the Fosters box containing beer bottles was thrown under the hedge in a layby.

It must have been a great party, but why couldn’t they have taken this home to dispose of or recycle?

My husband had cleared this same stretch of road on Friday at 6pm, so it was all left on our verges in 48 hours.

Not only is this mess unsightly and an affront to local residents, but it can be dangerous to wildlife and pets.

I strongly urge the general public to report anyone they see dropping litter.

Until miscreants are prosecuted and fined there will be no end to this inconsiderate and disgusting behaviour.

Susan Harrison, Settrington

Thanks for the help

ON Saturday as I walked towards Malton bus station for my return trip to York I fell and suffered a number of abrasions and injury to my left hand, arm and leg.

I was immediately assisted to my feet by a young man and two young ladies, and the young man offered to accompany me to the bus station in the hope that they would be able to help me further.

This we did and the staff most willingly dressed my injuries and even said they would hold up the bus, though this proved not to be necessary.

This letter is to thank all those who helped me.

Unfortunately I did not get any of their names, though I understood that those immediately on the scene were Malton residents.

A R Appleby, Stockton Lane, York

A waiting game

SUE Cowan is extremely lucky if she only has to wait up to two weeks for a doctor’s appointment.

I rang for an appointment on Wednesday, September 6, to see my doctor in Pickering and was given the first available date – September 27. I make that three weeks.

Judy Taylor, Pickering