WHEN North Yorkshire County Council granted planning permission for Third Energy to frack at Kirby Misperton, they overrode overwhelming public opposition and voted along party lines to allow this to go ahead.

There was in the permission an express condition that flaring or burning off gas would not be allowed, with which Third Energy agreed, to preserve the health and amenity of local residents.

But the company have now appealed to the Environment Agency to allow flaring at the fracking site.

If the EA allow this, the other fracking companies will say why not us, as a precedent will have been set.

North Yorkshire County Council never knew what they unleashed when they sanctioned this permission.

The local people knew best all along.

Do we want a vibrant tourist industry or none at all?

Chris Clayton, Hempland Drive, York