There is nothing new about fracking, it has been going on for more than thirty years both onshore and offshore UK.
It is only since the decision to release gas from shales and start exploration in areas not previously already marked down for hydrocarbons that it has suddenly become political.
An awful lot is known about fracking, its effects and most of the liquids used in fracking are water and sand, it doesn't require vast quantities of chemicals to produce an effective fracking fluid and a lot is known about them as well. They have been in use for decades.
Coal is far more environmentally damaging than gas. This is why all the coal-fired generating plants in the UK have been closed down and replaced by gas-fired plants. Suggesting we use coal rather than gas to generate electricity would really get me out in the streets.
Yes, of course we must move to, not so much renewable as non-carbon dioxide producing sources of energy, but far too much of our investment has been in sources like wind and sun, which are unreliable. I have gridwatch.co.uk/ on my book marks bar and check it daily. Look how much the windpower contribution to our energy supply varies. It can be as much as 25% some days, 2% another, regardless of demand. Solar is daylight only and less in winter. The gap has to be filled by something else. Nuclear can supply baseload, but is not flexible. The only alternative is gas.
What is needed is investment in the South Wales tidal barrage, which the government has decided not to do - and the Severn estuary barrage that was turned down because of wildlife objections. However tidal barrages need very high tidal ranges and the Bristol channel is about the only place in the UK where the tidal range is big enough.
Until alternative non CD producing sources of power generation that can provide all the power we need 24/7/365 other sources of power generation are needed to keep our homes, industry and, soon, transport system running. Gas is the most efficient and least polluting way to do it.