US quakes should act as a warning

Earthquakes are not rare in North America and some areas could be called “hot spots”.

Until recently, the state of Oklahoma was never a “hot spot”. Since fracking began in that state some years ago, earthquakes have been occurring regularly .

Surely that should raise red flags with the anti-fracking people?

I suggest that the earthquake website should be checked daily and it will soon be apparent that the multiple earthquakes which seem to appear in and around the fracking sites in Oklahoma are caused by fracking and not a natural occurrence. The quakes are not large, but numerous .

How long will it be before we hear of a big catastrophe and then have to read about all the denials as to what could have caused it ?

Geoff Heaton

(Waterloo Primary 1941-46 , Blackpool Grammar 1946-48 , Palatine 1948-1951)

FRACKING

Anti-frackers don’t focus on the facts

The Cuadrilla public inquiry underway in Blackpool is being used by fracking opponents as nothing more than a propaganda vehicle.

Rather than focus on material planning matters, which is what the planning inspector must decide upon, they’ve been busy using it to push their irresponsible scaremongering.

We can see this because of the inconsistencies thrown up by their witnesses and the way they’re making their case. For a start, they’re not playing fair. On the one hand, they dismiss claims of job prospects by saying that future production plans shouldn’t be taken into account, but on the other hand present arguments about potential risks that could only ever be relevant once the small-scale exploration work has been completed and the industry grows in size.

They’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at it, including unproven health impacts and climate change – even though the maximum emissions per site have been calculated to be just 0.02 per cent of the total recorded UK emissions in 2014 and hardly likely to contribute to global warming.

The reason for this negative campaigning approach? It’s not about convincing the planning inspector, it’s about attempting to sway public opinion when they hear all these scare stories being reported in the press.

The fact is that if the recent DECC public attitude survey findings are representative, 67 per cent of the Fylde electorate (so over 44,000 voters) could be expected to be supportive or neutral on the issue.

I’m one of the 67 per cent that accepts the need for a new and lasting source of gas, and that can see the local economic benefits that needy towns like Blackpool and Preston could one day enjoy.

That’s why I hope the planning inspector recommends these test sites go ahead, and why I hope the Secretary of State approves them too, for the benefit of the many and not the few.

Chris Evans

Lytham resident

SECURITY

Cameras a godsend to the pensioners

I was reading a science journal about technology moving into our homes in a big way.

By a simple press of a button will give you access to surveillance cameras in your neighbourhood, directly onto your TV screens. Not much on telly, let’s have a look outside.

I think pensioners will be using this full time and maybe catch a few lawbreakers, including fly-tipping, dog foulers, littler louts etc.

Kevin Gooder

Clinton Avenue

Blackpool

APPEAL

Women’s work is no always as a carer

Caring for a disabled loved one must be one of the most challenging tasks there is, and there are in excess of 6.5 million carers in the UK – that’s o in eight of us.

But did your readers know that six out of 10 of all carers are women? Many of them are mothers, who were unable to take a break this Mother’s Day.

But why are there so many more female than male carers? I work for the local disability charity Revitalise, which runs the Sandpipers respite break centre in Southport, and we did some research to find out.

In our survey, we found that eight out of 10 female carers thought that women felt pressured into the role of carer on account of their gender. What’s more, nine out of 10 felt there was an expectation in families and society that women take on the role of carer.

We think it’s because there is a widely held view in society that caring is somehow ‘women’s work’– a task that a woman can do better, or is better suited to, than a man.

Well, there are around 2.65 million male carers in the UK who would strongly disagree! So isn’t it high time we got rid of such lazy stereotypes?

I’d like to invite your readers to get behind Revitalise’s essential work supporting disabled people and carers – male and female – from across the UK. For more info, call 0303 303 0145 or visit www.revitalise.org.uk.

Colin Brook

Revitalise

RETAIL

Independent shops won’t gain on Sunday

Long opening hours on a Sunday will be to the benefit of major supermarkets, and to the detriment of independent shops. Is this what George Osborne wants to achieve?

How about sorting out the economy, George, rather than meddling like Gordon Brown? Look what happened to him.

Andrew Mercer

Address supplied