MAY I respond to the letter (Roy Shambley September 3) that described me, as someone who does not wish to see fracking in Bolton, as someone who cannot be said “to be speaking up for the 9,000 or so elderly and impoverished people who could die this coming winter through fuel poverty”.

I just do not agree that the answer to fuel poverty is fracking. One of the most powerful energy figures in the UK, Lord Browne, is one of a number of leading figures to state that fracking is not going to have a material impact on energy prices here.

Many people in the energy field just do not support the notion that UK shale gas production, part of the European gas market, could ever replicate the price effects seen in the USA. Our bills are unlikely to fall because demand for gas is continuing to grow. Many say there is not enough shale gas in the UK and Europe to change the gas price in the European market. Far better to shift our energy sources to more renewable energy. A booklet called ‘One Million Climate Change Jobs’ sets out how this can be achieved in Britain and how the jobs can contribute to reducing unemployment further here in the North too. Far better to work at reducing the growing need for energy too. The new jobs would include much greater insulation of homes for every single of the 9,000 elderly people Roy mentions in his letter. We are faced with fracking in the North. Does anyone think this may be because too many conservative votes could be lost in the South? It is the government that seemingly keeps party politics alive in fracking.

Sue Haworth

Bolton