Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, In response to the letter from Jim Parker (December 20), I am sure Dundee and NE Fife welcome the 700 jobs due to be created in the manufacture of new wind farm turbines and are appreciative of the plans and ambition of a Government to re-industrialise Scotland.
Any person advocating nuclear power stations should have a gander at the vast amounts of taxpayers’ money involved in the building/decommissioning and the long-term storing of waste, not to mention the dangers.
Perhaps Mr Parker should show his disdain for the Tory/Lib Government aided by the silence of Labour MPs who have cynically withdrawn the £1 billion funding for the clean coal carbon capture venture at Longannet.
This would have put Scotland at the forefront of the manufacture and export of such technology and would have also meant more coal-powered generating stations, and more jobs.
This is indeed a matter for grown-up people and the balanced energy policy advocated by the Scottish Government, but thwarted by Westminster, would have met requirements.
Bill Connor. 5 Jubilee Buildings,Tayport.
If you can’t win … attack
Sir, The old adage ”if you cannot win the argument attack the person” sprang to mind when I read Graham Brown’s rant about what he called the ”ill-informed minority” and their opposition to wind-powered energy.
A correspondent recently stated, correctly, not one wind turbine would have been erected if it relied on private enterprise to fund the projects. As chairman of Burcote Wind Mr Brown will be well aware that millions of pounds in grants, which must come ultimately from the taxpayers, have been very generously handed out with nothing like a reasonable return to show for it.
Those wind turbines cannot operate in very high winds. Nor can they operate in very cold conditions. At certain times they produce more electricity than can be used yet the owners of those wind farms still get paid for producing nothing. These same monstrosities have ruined swathes of our beautiful landscape, which this country was renowned for, and are decimating our wildlife.
The fact is that at the present time there is no cheaper energy produced than that which comes from nuclear power and to turn away from that to a much more expensive and wasteful resource is folly. We should be looking at the most cost-effective methods not trying to convince the world that our tiny country will have any impact on the planet.
Robert Finlay.6 Greenmount Drive,Burntisland.
Troubled by ‘reckless folly’
Sir, Like most physicists I have long been intrigued by the concept of ‘renewable’ energy but also troubled by the reckless folly of the government’s commitment to windfarms. New, more effective and less intrusive energy technologies are on the way but the door will be closed to them if today’s political class continues to ‘bet the house’ on wind.
Current turbines and their transmission clutter are first generation technology which will soon be obsolete and left as hideous reminders of our manic rush to invest. The shale gas revolution changed the game by guaranteeing cheap fossil fuel for the next century and this alone will prevent fuel poverty becoming endemic in Scotland.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard place,St Andrews.
They should think about it
Sir, I am long retired and fortunate enough to still be relatively active, so am therefore not directly affected, but there is no doubt that today’s society puts a stigma on you when you get old … and that rates from around 70 upwards.
In the recent past myself or friends in the 80s age group and still, like me, relatively active, have been refused the hire of a car, a burial insurance policy and a grant towards a home installation ”because you are too old”.
In each case the policy was dictated by ”people in head office” and the ”it wisnae me” or ”I’m only doin’ my job” excuses routinely came out.
What all young and youngish folk must remember is that, according to people like themselves, they will live, on average, even longer than us into their 90s and even 100-plus we are told.
In that case, and looking to their own future, wouldn’t it be wise to have a fresh look at all aspects of ageing, realise that, though old, folk deserve to be treated properly in day to day life and even more so in hospitals, care homes and so on?
Ian Wheeler.Springfield, Fife.
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.