I USUALLY agree with the letters Susan Haworth writes, but I have doubts about “Fantastic decision on fracking”.

Since the Tories sold off our utilities, there has been insufficient investment by the foreign companies we are now utterly dependent on for our gas and electricity.

As a consequence, we are in real danger of ever-increasing power cuts and even the threat of gas supplies running dangerously low, we are told.

Right now, part of the nuclear power station at Heysham is shut down for emergency repairs. Had this happened during the winter months, Heysham would have struggled to meet demand. As these stations age, the chance of breakdown increases. Can we afford not to take advantage of shale gas and coal bed methane?

This could be the lifeline we need until some future government gets tough with the gas and electricity companies, insisting they meet demand or face massive penalty fines.

Or, better still, that we see the re-nationalisation of our utilities — and the railways — and massive investment in renewable energy. Dream on!

Brian Derbyshire Ribchester Grove Bolton