Although not a Lancashire resident, I am writing to urge Lancashire County Council to refuse the application by Cuadrilla for fracking operations in the Fylde.

With my father, I own and run an award-winning and environmentally important farm with a herd of pedigree red poll cattle and a reputation for top-quality beef.

Indeed, this farm is one of only three in Britain producing beef to the LEAF Marque standard.

Sadly, we are surrounded by and threatened with fracking taking over in our area. There is plenty of evidence from the USA of cattle deaths, infertility and abortion caused by the fracking industry.

Support for fracking has made the future of our farm the most uncertain it has been since 1947.

Should fracking take hold it is likely to drive us out of business.

Fracking might create a few jobs and bring a temporary windfall to cash-strapped local authorities, but at huge environmental and emotional cost.

Should Lancashire County Council decide to approve this application it will be responsible for giving the green light to the fracking industry to proceed with its devastation and industrialisation of the countryside in other areas.

For the sake of our food and water, our land and air, our climate and our children, I urge them to reject this application.

Huw Rowlands, Chester (via e-mail)