While extension of the Scottish Government moratorium to include underground coal gasification (UCG) should be welcomed it would unfortunately miss its target (Communities across Scotland unite against 'undersea fracking', News, February 22).

Here by the Solway, an internationally recognised site of scientific interest, licences have been issued for three controversial forms of extraction within a 10-mile area. Our fragile rural economy, based on tourism and agriculture, is beset by fracking, longwall mining and UCG. The effects of these would be disastrous for our tourist trade, ruin our businesses, make our farm products unsaleable and destroy our house prices. And all without any scrutiny by the public or by our elected representatives.

The dangers of these technologies have been well publicised and the effect on public perception is enough to render them totally inappropriate. Add to this the impact on our water supplies, our inadequate road system and our employment and you have a disaster.

However Scotland does not stand alone in this. The UK Government is advertising exploration sites on both banks of the Solway. A moratorium in Scotland would only shift the landfall of UCG to Cumbria with no difference to the impact. The TTIP agreement might expose poor councils in Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria to litigation.

What we need is a concerted effort on both sides of the Border to get the Coal Authority to withdraw these licences.

Ian Richmond

Springfield