Beware permitting fracking, says farmer who allowed coal methane borehole

Paul Hickson says when he signed access agreement he had no idea of physical or psychological impact that gas drilling could have on him and his family

A farmer who gave an energy company permission to dig a test borehole for coal bed methane gas out of a sense of national duty has warned other landowners not to allow fracking and other unconventional gas exploration companies on their land.

The potential of gas drilling to pollute water courses and the effect it could have on the value of farmland left Paul Hickson and his family stressed for years and no wealthier, he said.