The views expressed by M Thomason and F Grimshaw epitomise the strength of feeling about the controversial topic of fracking (Letters, August 3).

After attending a meeting in Lewes a couple of years ago and watching a video produced by a US resident from Pennsylvania, which documented the damage to parts of that country over many years, I was convinced to become more involved and support the anti-fracking movement.

The public should not be hoodwinked by Government overtures.

A lack of long-term energy infrastructure and development by successive governments (both Labour and Conservative) highlights the inability of Governments to grasp the situation.

Incompetence over the years must not be allowed to prevail.

Communities cannot exist without water. The public must not allow the supply of clean water to be potentially polluted, putting society at risk.

Clean water is a right – not a commercial commodity to be negotiated on the stock exchange.

More than 150 years ago, communites existed without electricity (but had water). Last year, communities in other parts of the world disappeared due to a lack of water.

John Burns, Faircox Lane, Henfield

The long-term effects of fracking are completely unknown.

What is known from experience in the US is that there are many direct results and side-effects to the operation of fracking sites.

Corruption of the water supply is one likely result, both in terms of the huge use of water just for one well and the considerable risk of contamination. There is a risk of both water shortage as well as chemical pollution.

Many other risks arise from “accidents”.

Wells have been known to blow up, vehicles have had collisions on their way to a site while carrying chemicals or when transporting polluted water away from the site.

Air pollution can pose a considerable health hazard.

Add to this the possibility of an earthquake and it all looks like a toxic mix we could do without – with or without a cash injection of £100,000 per well. In light of the above, this seems derisory anyway.

We need to stop this rush towards lunacy.

Roy Dean, Bevendean Avenue, Saltdean