This offer by the government is a devious method of getting the population to continue subscribing to environmentally detrimental fossil fuels. We have better options in the form of other technologies for energy which I believe the government should invest in.
Neil Gilson, Farnborough
I suspect it’s a sop to local councils intended to cut down the resistance to fracking from the local population.
John McFarlane, Glasgow
As we do not know the full effect of fracking on the geology of areas of high population, I would not welcome it, preferring to focus this technology in open country or desert where it would yield a useful energy source.
Richard Young, Manchester
With the ability to kick the can of sustainable energy that far down the road, he should be kicking penalty goals for the England rugby team.
John Ovenden, Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire
Seems to me people want cheaper energy but want it to come from the ‘grimy’ North of England or anywhere else rather than from under the leafy Home Counties.
Geoff Donkin, Beverley, East Yorkshire
Definitely not! It will be a blight! Why are we going all-out for more and cheaper gas when the government has committed to onerous CO2 emissions targets and to be the greenest government yet! Clearly a contradiction?
Richard Duffell, Kendal, Cumbria
Let’s get real. I would welcome fracking if it was part of an overhaul of the energy supply market where companies are taken back into public ownership for the benefit of UK citizens. I’m sure that the meagre scraps of cash offered to local councils will pale into insignificance when compared to private profits from fracking used to fund foreign growth.
Geoff Miles, Poole, Dorset
Fracking in my area would give me no problems from a technical point of view although I might object aesthetically in the same way as I would should electricity pylons be planned! What we are seeing is the usual outcry of protest from people with little or no understanding of engineering when anything new is proposed in this country.
Ian Morris, Carter’s Clay, Hampshire
Any new technology has risks and benefits. You are asking whether the benefits (which I don’t know) outweigh the risks (which I don’t know). Tricky one. What really worries me is leaving my kids with no lights. The sooner we stop trying to squeeze the last few drops out of the ground, and start working on a credible replacement energy source, the better!
Justin Greenhalgh, Wantage, Oxfordshire
We wasted the revenue from North Sea oil. If we had the revenue from fracking I’m sure we could waste that too.
Alan Cook, Braintree, Essex
Yes, definitely. It is the future energy source now that coal is a dirty word. Fracking is more desirable than expensive, useless, health-affecting windmills.
Fulton McInnes, Argyll
I wouldn’t welcome a short-term bonanza at the expense of potentially serious consequences in the longer term: the environmental effects of fracking don’t seem to be very well understood.
Craig Sevant, Altrincham, Cheshire
Yes, as long as the fracking site was located far enough away from private housing so as not to cause a danger, environmental pollution or noise disturbance.
Richard Foyle, Baku, Azerbaijan
Yes, absolutely. As I happen to work in oil I’d be very interested in the techniques being used and be confident in the geology that’s supported it but on the whole it is too valuable a commodity to ignore.
Rich Pearson, Withernsea, Humberside
Fracking produces fuel. Fuel is needed to stop the lights going out. Local councils get tax revenue from fracking. Councils pay for the street lights. Seems an obvious solution.
Duncan Saunders, Derby
Another example of this government selling control of our resources to foreign interests. Where will the real profits and taxes end up? I would prefer to wait until the practicalities have been established. I’m not convinced that the extra money would improve local services.
Gib FitzGibbon, Ayrshire
Will we now be offered bribes for every change in our localities where there are commercial interests? New toll roads, new railway lines, power lines, sewerage, water supply?
Geoff Buck, Newton Abbot, Devon
Yes, as long as it’s not a one-off upfront payment that leaves nothing for future generations but a burden. Payments should be continuous until the production stops and appropriate to the amount of production.
Peter Airey, Crieff, Perthshire
I would say yes, but I am afraid that I have little confidence that more income to local government translates to better services!
Jeff Bulled, Lidlington, Bedfordshire
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