AT THE end of this month, January 28 and 29, Lancashire County Council will decide on whether to approve two of the largest fracking tests ever contemplated in the UK.

There will be peaceful demonstrations against fracking at county hall.

Many people have protested but our politicians have taken no notice.

They seem to believe shale gas is a magic fairy dust which brings cheap gas, lots of jobs and probably even free pies growing on trees.

It’s not true. Gas won’t be cheap.

The fracking companies will want their investment money back and the well-paid skilful jobs will be done by outsiders who will move on.

A lot of things have gone wrong in Pennsylvania where much of the US shale gas is produced.

Nothing is heard about it because compensation comes with gagging clauses.

On Tuesday, January 27, Friends of the Earth and Keep East Lancashire Frack Free will hold a free meeting at 7.30pm in Burnley’s Central Methodist Hall.

It will be a chance to hear more about fracking and ask questions.

Avril Hesson, co-ordinator, Burnley Friends of the Earth