THIRD Energy expected their test frack to have been completed by Christmas at Kirby Misperton, yet they still await the final sign off from Greg Clarke as their finances are investigated. How has this happened?

Why weren’t their finances checked adequately before planning permission was given?

Why did they bring large numbers of vehicles through my village to get everything in place to frack before the final sign off by government? Why did they bring in a huge rig and complete a workover of the well before the hydraulic fracture plan was signed off?

So now, after the immense cost of policing the protests and facilitating Third Energy’s traffic movements onto the site, we see important pieces of equipment leaving as the process is no longer imminent.

Is Third Energy going to frack at all, or is it going to sell to pay off its debts?

What a waste of my taxes paying for the policing and monitoring of this since September, yet still nothing has happened.

There has yet to be a successful frack in the UK.

This was hailed as the test frack that would rubber stamp the industry, yet all it has done is question the competence of Third Energy, the planning process and the monitoring.

The Environment Agency and North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) planning department have been stretched to monitor just this one well and fracking hasn’t even started.

I hope NYCC do not dismiss the concerns of local people again when the influx of planning applications begins from Ineos.

We are not being protected and there are no gold standards.

Hazel Winter, Kirby Misperton

Welcome survey

AS a resident of Norton, I welcome the suggested survey of car parking needs in the town (Gazette & Herald, February 7), although it is regrettable that the problem was not addressed sooner.

There has been a lack of forward planning in Ryedale District Council for far too long.

New car parking sites in central Norton will be difficult to find, but the vacant site in Commercial Street does present one option.

The site has planning permission for redevelopment but has lain empty for three years with no sign of action.

Perhaps the council could negotiate a short-term lease for at least part of the site from its owner. Surely worth a try.

M Gwilliam, Norton

Ignoring the basics

ALAN Avery advocates the standard high tax and spend doctrine of the left as a medicine to cure our social ills.

This always ignores one of the most basic economic rules of the world today.

If you have enough money you can live almost anywhere you wish.

A high spending socialist government with a confiscatory tax on wealth will see that tax base disappear overseas. Who will pay for the NHS and social welfare provision then?

He quotes the percentage of children living in poverty in Pickering, Thirsk and Filey.

Naturally, he ascribes this to the austerity policies of the wicked Tories, ignoring the drug and alcohol problems of many of these parents. Bad parenting and marital breakdown also come into the picture.

I cannot recall any improvement in eradicating these social ills under the last Labour government. Enough said.

Dick Hayball, Pickering

A64 rubbish tip

DOES anybody in this area take notice of the ever increasing A64 rubbish tip? The road verges between York and Malton are strewn with all sort of litter and are a disgrace - especially the lay-bys which appear to be dumping grounds.

I understand there is a health and safety issue with gathering the rubbish from the verges. However, as car, van and HGV drivers are able to park up and get out at lay-bys, why can’t Highways England at least make some effort to clean up the eye sores.

Ryedale District Council and City of York Council do a good job keeping the road network in their areas in good condition (they are not responsible for the A64). Why can’t Highways England do the same? Rubbish bins and notices would be a start - or maybe the speed camera vans could be strategically placed to spot litter louts and issue fixed penalty notices.

P W Fisher, Pickering

Positive effect

FOLLOWING last week’s St Nicholas Street closure, I thought I should let you know about the very positive effect it has had on the traffic.

Contrary to what we expected, traffic has flowed freely along Church Street and Welham Road.

It has been wonderful to see clear roads not congested with stationary traffic (other than train times) which also benefits pedestrians crossing the roads safely.

Dawn Williamson, Norton