I HAVE just read your article re TransPennine Express (November 6, Gazette & Herald).

While I appreciate that the train service does have flaws with overcrowded trains, cancellations etc, rather than present constant negativity, why not do a feature on the advantages of having a railway station at Malton and the efficient service from the staff at Malton please?

It is not their fault that the service is occasionally poor, but you always show a photograph of Malton station, why not Scarborough, Seamer or York stations?

We are very lucky to have Malton station allowing wonderful access to the entire UK, Manchester and Liverpool airports and beyond.

It must be demoralising for the staff at Malton railway station who do an excellent job to constantly read carping criticism in your publication.

Gill Pycock, Ryton

Stay vigilant

THE Government has put a moratorium on fracking in England.

This decision was made following a report by the Oil and Gas Authority, warning it was impossible to predict the magnitude of earthquakes caused by fracking.

The report followed one in October from the National Audit Office that revealed £32m of taxpayers’ money has been spent on the fracking industry and that landowners might ultimately be liable for the decommissioning costs of fracking sites.

Although this is welcome news for Ryedale - and particularly the Kirby Misperton area - it must

be regarded as a provisional rather than permanent halt to this environmentally-dirty industry.

It may be that in this run-up to the General Election the decision has been made for political reasons.

Following a positive outcome for the Conservatives, the only major party in Britain to support

fracking, the issue might well pop up for “review” in a couple of years’ time.

Boris Johnson once referred to fracking as “glorious news for humanity” and urged the UK to “leave no stone unturned, or unfracked” in pursuit of shale gas.

Although Mr Johnson’s track record on grandiose declamations has recently been found wanting, we must stay vigilant in case he remains determined on this one.

Dr Peter Williams, Malton

Look to the future

AS members of the so called noisy opposition to fracking, we would like to respond to the letter from J W Baxter (October 30, Gazette & Herald).

Firstly, we are puzzled by the first paragraph suggesting that we write to the Eden Project and wonder what our objection to fracking has to do with them.

As to being closed minded with no vision of the future, it is precisely our vision that drives us to oppose fracking and demand that it be banned.

If fracking is allowed it will eventually lead to the industrialisation of the countryside with large numbers of wells required with all the associated big increase in traffic movements to service them with the environmental impact on communities.

It would also severely impact on the farming and tourist industries which this area is heavily dependent on.

Ask the residents living near Cuadrillas Preston New Road site in Lancashire what they think of fracking.

As well as all the disturbance, the fracking of the first well resulted in more than 50 seismic events and the fracking of the second well in August resulted in 134 seismic events, including the UK’s largest fracking induced tremor causing damage to properties.

We do look to the future, but not through rose-tinted spectacles.

Phil and Chris Rowland, Pickering

Is it a hospital?

AN elderly male friend of mine urgently needed a catheter fitting recently.

A friendly neighbour took him to Malton Hospital where he was told to go to either York or Scarborough.

Have we a hospital here in Malton or is it an old folks’ home?

Alan Jones, Malton