THE Government’s attempt to bribe councils and communities into accepting fracking operations by offering financial incentives amounts to an admission that they have failed to make the case for fracking.

In fact, fracking is only happening because the government has generously set up a special office to support the industry – at our expense.

Were the same efforts utilised to make every home energy-efficient, to develop bio-gas from landfill and sewage works, to incentivise theconstruction of renewable energy infrastructure (quieter and less intrusive than fracking operations), we would be able to avert the energy crisis which fracking is supposed to address.

We’d also relieve ourselves of the noise, air pollution, traffic congestion and groundwater pollution which fracking operations will bring.

Yet despite the overwhelming public opposition to fracking, there is only one party opposing it – the Green Party.

CHRIS BLUEMEL, Southampton & District Green Party.