Sir, – Doing a deal with the electricity companies looks like a very smart move by the telecommunication operators.
Piggy-backing on the electrical infrastructure in order to get mobile coverage into the Highland “not-spots” is brilliant. It ticks a number of boxes.
Ian Thornton-Kemsley warns landowners to be on their guard over any renegotiation over rental agreements entered into back in 2004, according to your farming editor Nancy Nicolson’s article, Better deals possible on fibre rate, farmers told (January 19).
Perhaps they should also be encouraged to seek advice on possible insurance or re-insurance claims which may result from this arrangement.
The UK mobile telephone base station network was built to comply with the International Commission Non-Ionising Radiation Protection guidelines.
A certificate of ICNIRP compliance is required to be provided with all planning applications for base stations.
It is doubtful if a system of pylons carrying very high voltage electricity could be classified as such.
These guidelines are unlikely to give any protection against exposure to fibre-optic transmission as it is based on using modified light frequencies from the ionising part of the spectrum.
The attraction for the telecommunications industry in getting access to power companies’ fibre-optic cables is obvious.
The system is binary and ideal for transmitting digital data as the on or off function works faster, more efficiently and can cope with more data.
In 2009, prior to permission for the Beauly to Denny powerline upgrade, the Scottish Government opted to rely on those same ICNIRP guidelines without adopting the precautionary principle clause.
Permission was granted in January 2010.
Our use of power, fibre optics and digital communication has grown at a phenomenal pace since then.
The cumulative effects of this vastly increased radio and light transmission on our living environment do not appear to have been taken into consideration.
Marion Lang. Westermost, Coaltown of Callange, Ceres, Cupar.
Planning frustration
Sir, – I can sympathise with the campaigners of Saddle Hill windfarm in Angus who, having made arrangements to attend the committee meeting which would discuss the proposal, found the item removed (January 19).
Wind Prospect, the developer had submitted late information which meant the item was removed from the agenda.
The firm was quoted as saying it was always its intention to submit the information, so why did it not serve notice to that effect?
Our community has had to have dealings with this firm.
Wind Prospect withdrew its application for a windfarm at Mount Lothian near Penicuik the afternoon before it and objectors were due to give a presentation to councillors.
It resubmitted the application a few months later, wiping out a thousand objections. In a shorter time span, there were 700 objections the second time.
The firm went for a non-determination outcome after the council did not decide the application in the regulation time period.
A date for determination had been set but the planning officer had not made formal arrangements to extend the deadline.
The Scottish Government planning reporter refused the Mount Lothian appeal.
Celia Hobbs. Dykeneuk, Peebles Road, Penicuik.
Scotland’s failed wind policy
Sir, – The absurdity of the excessive payments to windfarm operators to not generate electricity is hard to fathom out.
Perhaps this explanation could help.
Imagine this scenario: a punter walks into the bookies to put £50 on his favourite horse, Windy Gamble, to win in the National Grid Stakes.
There are no guarantees he will be lucky but it is worth a punt, he thinks.
The bookmaker declines his bet. “Sorry mate, too many runners in that race. Windy Gamble has been stood down. However, the owner is demanding £60 to keep him in the stable and you have to pay for it.”
Why would anyone pay anything in that sort of situation? Well we all do.
Every time wind is constrained off, the wind operators are paid more than if they were generating electricity and we pay for it.
We may all just as well throw our money away at the bookies.
Wind is erratic and volatile and has to be constrained off to protect the grid from overload and to prevent blackouts.
When will the policymakers accept that backing wind gives us an energy source that is difficult for the grid to manage, will always need other reliable energy as back up and is only about 25% efficient?
It is a bit like a one-legged racehorse. It just does not stand up.
Lyndsey Ward. Darach Brae, Breakachy, Beauly.
Perth problems may get worse
Sir, – I note that Atholl Street in Perth is one of the most polluted in Scotland.
It does not take a traffic expert to work out that most of the traffic using Atholl Street comes over the Perth Bridge from Scone and beyond, via Bridgend.
Until another Tay crossing is actually built and not just “committed to” then a further 750, or even 100, houses in Scone seems utter folly to me and might indicate that the pursuit of profit is more important than the health of the people of Perth.
I think it would also be fair to say that the traffic pollution in Bridgend at rush hour times must be fairly high, even now.
John D. Ridley. Spoutwells Drive, Scone.
Hollow words from Labour
Sir, – Visiting a friend in Lochgelly over the holiday, I was intrigued to see an A5 Christmas card featuring Alex Rowley MSP amid classes of grinning children.
Apparently, thousands were delivered to households.
The message was – Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world – Mala Yousafzai.
I had to pinch myself. Is this the same Alex Rowley whose Labour colleagues on Fife Council have been trying to close 16 libraries in Fife?
Does he not realise that libraries are essential resources, particularly for under-privileged children?
It is great Mr Rowley stands up for children and education, but it really is time he and his party closed the gaping cavern between rhetoric and political action.
Linda Holt. Dreel House, Pittenweem, Anstruther.
World of missed opportunities
Sir, – Here we are in the 21st Century, with nuclear technology capable of lighting the world if we wanted to, but all we can do is mess around with solar panels, windmills and batteries.
It makes you weep to think how these green people have brought us down to their own pathetic cave-dweller level.
Malcolm Parkin. Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
English vital for integration
Sir, – Prime Minister David Cameron has launched a £20 million language fund to help Muslim women facing discrimination and social isolation since 40,000 don’t speak English at all and 190,000 have very poor English.
In Canada, the deal is simple: if you want to live in the country, you learn the language.
Mr Cameron also said that schools, courts and any other public institution which wants to ban Muslim women from wearing the veil can expect the full backing of the UK Government.
France and Belgium have had a ban on wearing the veil in public for some time.
In France, those who defy the ban are fined and made to attend classes on French values.
A woman Muslim journalist said that it isn’t Muslim women that are the problem with not learning English and wearing the veil but Muslim men and hardline imams who do not consider women to be equal.
Being able to speak English is the key to education, a career, social inclusion and other Western opportunities, so why is this denied?
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.