LETTER: MP should meet with protesters

Firstly, the protesters are fully away that Cuadrilla are currently only test drilling. But if the test is successful then this would lead to potential fracking across the county.

The protesters do not want fracking in our beautiful county, therefore we do not want them to test for the viability for it.

I ask what Mr Maude is doing to ensure that Cuadrilla are monitored.

Secondly, there is evidence that suggests that fracking poses a risk to the environment and the health of the local population http://scienceblogs.com/significantfigures/index.php/2013/06/27/the-growing-evidence-of-the-threat-of-fracking-to-the-nations-groundwater/.

Additionally, the village has seen an increase of HGV traffic, and if fracking commences this will increase enormously, which will directly increase the air pollution in the area.

Surely it is Mr Maude’s responsibility to protect the health of his constituents and we ask why he disregards such evidence to be able to conclude that there is ‘no risk of pollution’?

Thirdly, there is a lot of concern over the water demands that fracking will placed on a county already under stress.

We live in the driest region in the UK and are already facing a potential shortfall, without fracking placing even more demand on our supply. http://wwtonline.edie.net/news/south-east-water-facing-145-million-litre-shortfall#.Ugi2Z5LUnng

Where will this extra water come from?

Fourthly, I have seen no evidence of disruptive behaviour from the protesters apart from slowing traffic.

The county council closed the road to resurface it and I am more than happy for the road to be closed so protesters are not put at risk from fast moving traffic.

There are several roads serving Balcombe and it is easy for traffic to divert onto a different road to complete their journey. This is a minor inconvenience at best.

Those that are reporting other behaviour as disruptive are no more than scaremongers, the protesters are peaceful, abiding by a code of conduct based on respectful behaviour towards others no matter what their opinion of the current test drilling is.

As a resident I have seen no disruption in the village at all.

Fifthly, the protesters are local residents, yes there are people for outside the village, but they come from Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead, Lewes and Brighton. Very few are from outside of Sussex.

I urge Mr Maude to come and meet with the protesters himself to see it from the ground level.

Mr Maude may say he has already met with residents but yet is not planning a surgery in the village until November despite a request from residents to meet with us earlier.

So I wonder with whom he has have actually met to be able to form this opinion that he is raising the concerns of the residents in the village?

I eagerly look forward to his response.

DIANA POSPISIL (Mrs)

Jobes, Balcombe