THANK goodness for Cllr Jeff Green and his assurances about the Dee Estuary being an area of special conservation.

I wish he had been on the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil rig explosion.

He could then have warned the advancing oil slicks that they were approaching several marine conservation areas.

Of course it is right that people in Wirral should be able to discuss coal gasification under the Dee without being accused of "scaremongering."

I am sure that Cluff Natural Resources will take great care if they set fire to the coal seams under the Dee and start extracting the gas generated.

However, it is heartening to think that if things do go wrong, Cllr Green will be standing on the tip of Hilbre Island waving his arms and warning the approaching devastation that this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Glynn Ridge, Irby