Having been at County Hall on the first day of the application to frack at KM8, and having returned on Monday, I naively thought no rational person could possibly allow fracking in beautiful Ryedale, even if they didn’t live there.

But it seemed councillors had already decided and that no matter what, they would give it the go ahead.

The planning officer interrupted the proceedings, after someone on the committee spoke in favour of rejecting, warning people that they must state their reasons for rejection. No such regulations seem to make it essential that those in favour had to state their reasons.

The final vote was rushed, people and common sense ignored, the whole thing a farce.

Anne Stewart Helmsley