The topics being raised by today’s letters to the editor are financing wind farms, a suggestion for our own John J., “national neurosis” over health and safety, the knock-on effect of a late bus, praise for Aberfeldy district nurses and time for common sense at Dens.
Big power companies now farming subsidies
Sir,-The news that Scottish householders and businesses will face a massive hike in electricity bills to pay for the madcap race to renewable energy should come as no surprise to anyone.
So far around 2500 wind turbines have been erected across the UK and yet they contribute barely 1% of all the electricity we need. Their combined output of around 900 megawatts is less than that of a single, medium-sized conventional power station.
Worse still, far from being free, this trickle of electricity is twice as expensive as nuclear, gas or coal-fired plants which provide us with 90% of our needs.
Those who claim offshore wind farms will provide the answer are also well off track. The Royal Academy of Engineering recently calculated that the cost of a kilowatt hour of electricity produced by an offshore wind turbine is 7.2p, compared to 2.2p from gas, 2.3p from nuclear and 2.5p from coal.
The big power companies are no longer farming wind, they are farming subsidies and the poor consumers will have to foot the bill.
Because the wind only blows intermittently, even in Scotland, wind turbines produce electricity for only about one-quarter of their working lives.
During the coldest parts of winter, when temperatures plummet and there is no wind for days on end, Scotland’s wind turbines will be standing idle while we shiver in the cold!
That is why every single megawatt of generating capacity from our onshore and offshore wind farms will need to be matched by a back-up supply from high CO2 emitting fossil-fuel gas or coal-fired plants, which nobody in the Scottish Government is planning for.
And since the government has ruled out new nuclear plants in Scotland, we can be certain of one thing the lights ARE going to go out.
Struan Stevenson MEP,European Parliament,Brussels.
Should writer stand for office?
Sir,-Bravo John J. Marshall. What a brilliant article about the lunatic plan to build an incinerator at the Dundee waterfront. In one incisive piece he showed the idea for the nonsense it is and posed the crucial question about where our politicians are when they are really needed.
If this crazy scheme goes ahead the public will do well to remember who it was who let them down.
Mr Marshall referred to the Victoria and Albert museum as being an architectural gem for Dundee. He is a literary gem for his weekly articles, which are fearless, funny and always eloquent.
What a treasure. Can’t someone persuade HIM to run for election?
Morna Cunningham,14 Baxter Park Terrace,Dundee.
Fighting back against tyrants
Sir,-My closing years as a parish minister were saddened by the ruination of the Kirk’s youth activities as a result of the national neurosis caused by our health and safety zealots.
I am therefore delighted the coalition government has accepted Lord Young’s proposals to curtail the “nanny state” laws and regulations so beloved of New Labour and the EU.
It is fabulous that the petty tyrants in our town halls who ban innocent events on the grounds that they breach red tape will themselves now face fines. Emergency workers, teachers and Good Samaritans will be freed from a compensation culture driven by “no-win, no-fee” lawyers.
Ordinary people have been tormented for too long by such petulant nonsense as children being instructed not to walk under a conker tree without helmets!
Dr John Cameron,10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Knock-on effect of late buses
Sir,-Why is it so difficult for Travel Dundee to arrange for a bus to travel from A to B at a given time?
Surely if a bus takes 30 minutes to travel a route then it cannot be that difficult? I don’t mean exactly, but 25 minutes late, as was the case of the No. 4, supposedly arriving at 4.05pm at Lochee bypass but actually arriving at 4.30pm?
This is being repeated many times every day in Dundee. Has Travel Dundee’s Lawrence Davie analysed the effect this has on the day-to-day life of the travelling public late for work again? Missed your train? Missed another appointment?
Travel Dundee seem to believe confusing the public will allow the company to get away with anything. Give a bus a new number and no-one will know what to expect.
I can’t think of any organisation which has done so much damage to the green cause, as people are deciding to start using their cars again.
Ben Gallacher,Pitalpin Court,Dundee.
High praise for district nurses
Sir,-I write to draw your attention to the wonderful work of our Aberfeldy district nurses.
Over the last year we have come to rely heavily on their services through severe ill-health. Their unstinting reliability, compassion, knowledge and sheer professionalism is boundless.
We, along with all their other grateful patients in the wide area they cover on a daily basis, salute and thank them sincerely.
Heather Booth,Corriegorm Castle,Fearnan.
‘Millionaires’ spell trouble
Sir,-I am not a supporter but it seems clear to me that Dundee FC has been run by a shower of cowboys for many years.
How many so-called millionaires have been associated with Dens? No wonder fans are depressed and downhearted.
It is time common sense prevailed before it’s too late.
Robert Dunlop.Balgove Cottages,Coupar Angus.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.