I THINK that the time has come to take the (understandable) emotion out of the fracking issue and to consider the the pros and cons of it in a dispassionate and pragmatic way.

Facts, not emotions, are key to understanding where, exactly, this country is with its energy policy. Or, perhaps more importantly, the lack of a credible energy policy.

The availability of, and access to, a guaranteed source of affordable energy is critical to the economic and social well-being of the country and all of the people living within it. Without it our industries will wither on the vine, our lights will go out in winter and the wealth needed to provide for the NHS, defence, welfare and pensions etc will not be forthcoming.

We have a deepening energy crisis and one of the main reasons for it is that back in 2007 Tony Blair committed us to a raft of unrealistic and, probably, unachievable targets for carbon reduction and the building of renewable energy capacity. Since then every government that we have had has failed to realise the implications of all this and just carries on compounding the problem. Truly the political lunatics have been in charge of the energy asylum since then and not one of our governments has had the sense to see the writing on the wall.

We are reducing our electricity generating capacity at a faster rate than it is being replaced. The much needed new nuclear facility at Hinckley Point will not come an steam for at least twenty years. That's if it ever gets built at all. And the cost to us, the consumer, of funding this is at least £25 billion over many years. On the other hand new gas fired facilities can be constructed and brought into service for less than £1 billion each. Surely it's a no-brainer?

Sooner or later the politicians are going to have to admit to the seriousness of our energy gap and the implications for all of us. The situation is now so serious that, like it or lump it, fracking is the only short to medium term solution that we have and it is for this reason that fracking will happen. And, when it does, do not blame the government of the day. The blame lies with all the complacent politicians who have marked time since 2007 blinded by all the nonsensical propaganda surrounding wind farms. They should reflect on the fact that on one day, a couple of weeks ago, coal was producing nearly 25% of our electricity whilst 5,500 wind turbines were producing just 1%.

Richard Davies

The Asshawes

Heath Charnock