IT SEEMS (Echo, February 1) that the government wants to change the law and strip local councils of their right to vote against fracking applications in their area. Is this democratic?

People are unhappy that vast quantities of water are needed and that 750 commercially confidential chemicals – which includes poisons such as cyanide – should be permitted to enter our precious water systems.

There are problems with house values, insurance and earth movements and the lessons from America are to leave fossil fuels in the ground.

Do we want unsightly infrastructure, illness, toxic air and wastewater for what is after all only a short-term energy source?

National Park Authority members have signed up (Echo, February 4 4.2.16) to a joint policy document on oil and gas development in Hampshire to help against potential fracking.

Eminent botanist Professor Sir Ghillean Prance (Director of the Eden Project and former Director of Kew Gardens) warned Dorset Agenda 21 in January that ecosystems are unravelling with climate change and there is unprecedented change in food patterns, disrupting animal life and leading to starvation and extinction of some species.

He has discussed his concerns with David Attenborough and both are in favour of clean energy systems.

The matter of community energy schemes and the fifth fuel, energy conservation; especially in relation to elderly winter deaths, was mentioned at Boscombe Forum’s recent AGM.

As we honour the Paris pledges, perhaps we could all ask our councillors for a Climate Literacy Programme!

SUSAN CHAPMAN

Parkwood Road, Bournemouth

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