Dear Editor There are several very good reasons for voting “No” to the “Yes” campaign.

1. Making sure that there is no risky gas in Falkirk and mid-central Scotland region or anywhere else in Scotland. The reasons for the above statement are as follows: Falkirk Against Unconventional Gas argue that the processes are very new and there’s powerful evidence from similar operations that they entail significant health and environmental risks, which the proposal has overlooked, including the potential for long term contamination of our air, farmland, watercourses and ecosystems and other adverse impact on our property prices, local economy and general quality of life in the area. My own view is that a development of the above type should not be made near the Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

2. If we the ordinary people vote to stay in the UK and the EU, Falkirk and Stirling Councils, Falkirk Against Unconventional Gas and the NHS and any other council within mid Scotland Region can challenge Dart Energy using the UK and the European Court system to fight Dart Energy using the appeal system to take any court or Public Enquiry that goes against the wishes of the local community to a higher court. All the way up to The European Court of Justice.

3. In the UK the situation is as follows: Whatever the UK government does regards fracking it can be challenged in a court of law. If Scotland remains in the UK, it can be argued that various organisations like Falkirk Against Unconventional Gas and the various councils like Falkirk and Stirling can argue in a court of law, if need be, that the UK regulatory system is inadequate as it is based on onshore regulations - we need an open and exhaustive regime. As it stands the system offers no protection to residents.

Finally, I feel that anyone opposed to fracking should be writing to local councillors, MPs, MSPs and MEPs, pointing out that an EU Environment Directive, published September 2012 stated that “shale gas drilling poses a ‘high risk’ to health and the environment that is worse than that posed by other fossil fuels”. MPs, MSPs and MEPs should listen to the people they represent, not the big energy companies who put profits before safety. What are the Westminster MPs, MEPs and the MSPs prepared to do about the current activities of companies like Dart Energy.

Yours sincerely John Mitchell Alloa Road Tullibody.