Sir, – Your article on the tourism report made amusing reading, especially the way it was seized upon as indisputable fact by the wind worshippers who now seem to be influencing Scotland’s energy policy.
It appears it was not commissioned by anyone and its author is apparently employed by wind developers at public inquiries to help fight the objectors.
The company, Biggar Economics, had been commissioned by Renewables UK in 2012 for another onshore wind survey, reporting the “favourable” economics of wind development.
It hardly fills one with confidence, however robust this new report is supposed to be.
The fact is a temporary spike in tourism revenue can be expected in areas where windfarms are constructed as the shipped-in foreign workers take up the tourist beds.
It is only temporary, though, and as genuine tourist destinations report an aversion to windfarms, a bucket of salt is needed when reading this report.
With many more approved turbines due to be constructed on our hills we should be asking our visitors as they visit areas where they expect to see famous iconic landscapes if they would be disappointed to see them speared with giant industrial hardware, miles of access tracks snaking up hillsides, pylons and substations? Would they want to return and spend their money in the same area.
I bet the answer would be a very robust no!
Lyndsey Ward.
Darach Brae,
Beauly.
Over the top and meaningless
Sir,- In his interesting over-the-top article “Energy obsession could kill us all” (August 4), Alex Bell says: “we are hugely dependent on the renewables revolution”, but critics would say Scotland has become dangerously dependent on wind.
When the wind does not blow, horror of horrors, Scotland has to import “nasty” coal, gas, diesel and nuclear electricity from England.
For Mr Bell to pronounce that the £30 billion from the proposed Hinkley Point would be better spent on Scotland’s renewable potential is also over the top.
Even more over the top when he says “we could rescue this island from its ultimate fate as a barren land littered with stone memorials to a defunct civilisation”.
Mr Bell says humans are addicted to energy and that 87% is not from renewables.
A reality check. Scotland has 0.13% of global emissions.
More than 2,400 coal-fired power stations are under construction, or planned, around the world.
These will emit 6.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and will raise the emissions to five times the level consistent with keeping global warming below 2C.
Mr Bell’s comparison of Scotland with Easter Island is meaningless.
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
Job losses due to SNP lack of care
Sir, The comments by Tim Allan, reported in the Courier (August 5), are eminently sensible.
The reported response from Paul Wheelhouse, the business minister in the Holyrood Government seems to be confined to messages of sympathy for the families of the unemployed and commitment that Pace will support them.
But this response from Holyrood is a case of far too little, far too late.
What should have been happening for the past 4-5 years, is a concerted effort from Holyrood to show the world that Scotland and Dundee, are politically and economically stable, possessed of the skills and work ethics that investors want when making decisions on where and how much of their investment to risk, and there is an attractive tax regime as an incentive to invest.
The position of the SNP, with its constant threat of breakaway from the UK has created so much economic, fiscal and political uncertainty, that no sensible investor will come to Dundee when they can invest in other cities in other countries where the welcome is backed up by genuine realities.
Until the SNP ceases its constant threats of breaking away from the UK, I’m afraid Dundee and other places in Scotland will suffer from this independence-obsession, promoted at every turn by the Scottish Nationalists.
By putting romantic idealism before hard reality, they will ultimately prove to be a disaster for Scotland.
It is now time for Scottish voters to wake up to the fact SNP ministers are not actually acting in the best long-term interests of Scotland and to replace them with people who can do a bit more than constantly spout threats and platitudes.
Derek Farmer.
Knightsward Farm,
Anstruther.
New premier’s lack of humanity
Sir, – Those hoping for a departure from Osbourne’s inhumanity towards the poor and disabled can expect little change from our new Prime Minister who, as home secretary, chose not to intervene in the cruel case of the Brain family, and still shows no sign of relenting.
Significantly, Scotland’s First Minister has no power to block their imminent expulsion from Scotland.
The words “democratic” and “deficit” spring to mind.
James Stevenson.
Drummond Avenue,
Auchterarder.
Put an end to T in the Park
Sir, – I read with interest your front page headlines about T in the Park.
Yes, there must be inquiries into these unfortunate deaths, and no doubt there will be court cases regarding other offences that occur every year, despite the usual assurances from the organisers of zero tolerance.
As I said in a previous letter, these festivals always attract the criminal element, enjoying anonymity among thousands of revellers.
It’s time for the council to revoke a licence for 2017’s festival – the arrogance of the organisers assuming it will take place is simply nauseating.
Mr Liddiard and his fellow objectors should have been properly listened to when the proposal to site it at Strathallan was announced.
I end by asking – has the stolen cash machine been recovered and has anyone been charged with the offence?
Alister Y. Allan.
18 Castle View,
Letham,
Perth.
Parking will help city centre
Sir, – Before converting the empty retail units in Dundee city centre into flats as suggested by Kenneth Brannan (August 5), I’d recommend introducing free short-term parking, reversing pedestrianisation and putting on a decent bus service in the evenings.
Moira Brown,
Gray Street,
Broughty Ferry.
Attempting to silence business
Sir, – SNP MSP John Mason makes things worse as he tries to justify his Barrhead Travel boycott remarks, explaining that he believes businesses should not take sides, saying they should “think twice because of what might happen”.
What does that mean?
Is he really saying that businesses should not express concerns about what impact a given decision or policy might have on their business, because of fear of upsetting the SNP?
Keith Howell.
White Moss,
West Linton.
The dishonesty of windfarms
Sir, – Linda Holt is to be congratulated on her academically robust unpicking of the report by BiGGAR Economics, which claims that tourist jobs are not at risk from the proliferation of windfarms in rural Scotland.
As might be expected, Lang Banks of WWF Scotland gives the report his wholehearted support, as he appears to do in the case of any paper supporting windfarms at the expense of all other interests.
The Scottish Renewables poll on support for renewables, also known as windfarms, comes to mind.
Miss PM Uprichard,
Littleridge,
Hepburn Gardens,
St Andrews.