I WOULD like to have the opportunity to correct the misinformation written about me by Nicholas Burton in his letter headlined Election Fever on April 8.

I was one of the eight signatories needed to call special council meeting to debate fracking in Ryedale. No, I did not support fracking.

On the strong advice of the council’s solicitor who, in his report, stated the motion for discussion would be unlawful if adopted leaving the council open to a Judicial Review costing up to £250,000.

I was not prepared to take the risk with ratepayer’s money.

Why would I support fracking when Hovingham has always been my home and the land I farm is just 200 yards from a proposed drilling site on the Nunnington Estate? The proposal would have an enormous detrimental effect on my business and the quality of life of everyone living in Ryedale.

Robert Wainwright, Hovingham