SIR – Fracking is a controversial procedure which involves drilling under the ground, blasting large amounts of water, sand and chemicals to release gas and oil trapped in the rock.

It has been linked to pollution and even earthquakes and its safety for people living in the areas where it takes place still remains to be assured.

It has been banned in parts of Europe and Scotland, banned pending further research into its safety. In Wales fracking will likely not take place because the government there have pledged to block all applications.

Yet, in England, David Cameron champions it as a way of providing plentiful supplies of gas which he says will be delivered cheaply to customers (which is challenged).

It is certainly another way of pursuing fossil fuels, which environmental experts believe we should be scaling down. But significantly, Mr Cameron has decided to ignore all arguments against.

Fracking is being fast-tracked in England and exploratory drilling given the go-ahead without the need for the public to even be consulted.

David Santillo, senior scientist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories commented, “This is a big deal. To be looking to relax the rules on what is essentially a relatively new activity I think is irresponsible.”

David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose