SIR - It seems congratulations are due to West Sussex County Council’s planning committee who refused an application for oil and gas exploration that would have led to the controversial process of hydraulic fracking in that area.

The proposals attracted nearly 2500 objections and even the local Conservative MP, a former government minister, supported the campaign.

This is of course at variance with the stated views of his party and particularly leader David Cameron who wants to see fracking going on all over the country!

The council said it turned down the application because it was “worried that the exploration activity would have an adverse effect on the area,” adding that, “ OTHER sites might be more appropriate.”

Well yes, quite, though I would add, NOT in my area either, if you don’t mind!

David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose