The Government has just concluded a public consultation on fracking. This included the possibility of allowing drilling for fracking to extend up to 300 metres under private property without the consent of the owner. More than 40,000 responses were received and it seems that more than 99 per cent (yes, really) opposed this particular proposal. So what does the Coalition government now intend to do? Go ahead as planned, taking no notice. Small wonder people are disillusioned with public consultations and party politics.

So we can now expect Chippenham’s Lib Dem MP, Duncan Hames, to help vote through this into law, obeying the party line as he has done throughout this Parliament – on the NHS, secret courts, destruction of legal aid, privatisation of the Royal Mail, cuts to disability benefits.

We can hardly expect any different from the Conservative candidate in the forthcoming General Election, as the Tories are gung ho for fracking. There is still time for Mr Hames and Ms Donelan to step up and say publicly that they will oppose this dreadful proposal but I am not holding my breath.

Chris Caswil, Independent Wiltshire councillor, Chippenham Monkton.