Today’s letters to the Editor raise the issues of the roads network around Perth, taking Christ out of Christmas, criticism of Islam, Alex Salmond’s renewables dream, Thanet wind farm and Scotland squad selection.
Home buyers will pay for Perth road costs Sir,-I read with interest and scepticism (September 29) about the plan to have property developers make a contribution to the improvement of the roads network which serves the Perth area.
Now, who is kidding who?
Property developers are not known for making vast philanthropic gestures and any such contribution will be passed on to the first-time buyers of any new development by marking up the purchase price to cover this extra outlay.
I think yet another stealth tax would probably be a better description.
Do the people who prepare these reports and plans live in a different world, or do they just think that the great British public are gullible beyond measure?
I agree that there are congestion problems in and around Perth but, in spite of warnings, the planning department and councillors have continued and still continue to grant planning permission while apparently ignoring those warnings.
I fear that much of the problem has been exacerbated by our own local authority.
John D. Ridley.Spoutwells Drive,Scone.
Christmas stays Christian
Sir,-We have heard all of Allan Hinnrichs’ tired old arguments on the pagan symbolism surrounding Christmas many times before (September 29).
No-one who is in the least bit knowledgeable about these matters is denying the evidence. However, like so many of his ilk, Mr Hinnrichs is not just a conscientious scholar merely interested in setting the record straight.
It seems that he is just not happy with the idea of Christmas itself.
Just because the commemoration of Christ’s birth coincides with earlier festivals, and certain customs are joyously purloined, that does not invalidate the Christian celebrations.
You cannot take Christ out of Christmas. It is illogical to think otherwise.
John R. Nicoll.7c Queen Street,Broughty Ferry.
Islam treated with kid gloves
Sir,-Andrew Lawson (September 24) is mistaken if he thinks secularists or atheists attack Christianity more than Islam. It is that the media suppresses criticism of Islam.
Atheists and Christians get to verbally bash each other to their hearts’ content but try saying a bad word about Islam.
And it is not just atheist critics who encounter this double standard. Hamas burns Bibles and people take no notice. Threaten to burn a Koran and all hell breaks out.
(Dr) Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Warrington.
High cost of wind subsidies
Sir,-Our energy bills have risen and are going to rise even more in the months and years ahead due to the Salmond dream of producing 100% of our energy from renewables.
Consumers will have to pay for his dream. The overall bill to pay for renewables and a low-carbon economy is more than £200 billion.
It is, therefore, refreshing to see at least one senior power executive state that the renewables industry needs to be more honest with consumers about these extra costs hidden in their energy bills.
Subsidies paid out to developers are added to our energy bills. At present, this is about £19 but is expected to rise to £100 or even more.
Where does this cash go? A 2MW wind turbine gets £250,000 and a 3MW wind turbine gets £375,000 a year.
When our energy bills pop through our door and we fearfully open them up for examination, there is no clear statement of this hidden subsidy. Devious, I would suggest.
The public must be told exactly how much, in bold, red print that they are contributing to “green” energy.
If this was shown, then more people would question the worth of wind farms, solar panels and biomass plants. Could this be the reason it is concealed?
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
Exporting our job opportunities
Sir,-Your report about the Thanet wind farm off Kent brings to mind a few questions.
Firstly, there is the claim that this will provide the electricity for 200,000 homes. Where will these homes get their electricity from when the wind is not blowing, or is blowing too hard?
Secondly, politicians claim that this is a major UK investment. Why was only 20% of the investment for Thanet spent in the UK?
Thirdly, we are told that such wind facilities are a demonstration of UK confidence in renewable energy. Why was Thanet built by a Swedish company?
We are told that this facility is a major investment in leading UK technology. Why were none of the turbines manufactured in the UK?
All this wasteful and useless investment adds to the costs of electricity and the belief that we consumers are being fleeced.
(Dr) G. M. Lindsay.Whinfield Gardens,Kinross.
Give younger players a break
Sir,-Once again, Barry Ferguson has managed to make headlines for turning his back on the Scotland squad.
Why was he approached in the first place? Does a lifetime ban not mean lifetime anymore?
This is an example of pampered, overpaid footballers believing their own press. It galls me to also see Kris Boyd in the reckoning as he committed the more heinous crime of refusing to play for Scotland. He should never be given a shirt again.
Give younger players a chance, or players who really want to play for the national team.
Stephen Caldwell.31 Bankton Park,Kingskettle.