This morning’s correspondents are concerned over Britain’s biomass fuel supply, angry at a Dundee University decision, bemused by weather statistics and worried about public investment in the M74.
Unsustainable nature of biomass fuel supply
Sir,-According to a study on behalf of the Confederation of Forest Industries and other trade bodies, the United Kingdom will have to import 27 million tonnes a year of wood fuel by 2017 to feed the growing biomass industry.
Forth Energy’s proposed plants at ports in Scotland will each need 1.3 million tonnes of raw material, most of which will be imported. It is perfectly possible, indeed likely, that demand could outstrip supply, with such an imbalance having very serious impacts on the operators of biomass plants, affecting availability and prices.
The home supply system, dependent on waste wood, recycled timber and short rotation coppice crops like willow could, with difficulty, be able to supply up to about 10% of the UK’s biomass raw material requirements.
Dundee East MSP Shona Robison has also shown concern over supplies, if not the biomass plant itself. She stated, “if the question of a sustainable supply of wood pellets can be resolved”, and then further questioned the availability of reliable secure supplies for the plant, never mind cost.
It is not good business to be at the mercy of suppliers and unsure of the availability and cost of your raw material.
This is exactly where Forth Energy’s biomass plants will be if they are ever built.
Of course, Forth Energy would be looking at neither wind or biomass were it not for the handsome payouts available for such schemes through the Renewable Obligation and paid for by the consumer, rich and poor alike.
Graham Lang.Coaltown of Callange,Ceres.
Birth of a football giant
Sir,-I would like to congratulate Dundee United on winning the Scottish Cup for the second time.
I played for Perth in the Scottish Schools’ Cup at Tannadice in 1928.
I remember the visitors’ dressing room, a large wooden building.
I remember it being very cold and fine, powdery snow blowing into the room. There was only one wash-hand basin and only cold water but, when you are young and fit, playing football was the most important thing.
So it is from humble beginnings to great heights for United and I hope they have many more victories in the future.
Dan Reoch.21 Chapel Street,Aberfeldy.
Missed opportunity
Sir,-I would like to agree with Mrs Jones (May 18) regarding Dundee University’s decision to stop supporting Dundee Book Events.
For some years, my wife and I have enjoyed our frequent visits to the university to hear authors talking about their books, their lives and the world as they see it.
To say that the meetings were educational in the broadest possible sense is to understate their worth.
But universities have never been about popular education and would probably agree with Oscar Wilde that whatever the public likes must be bad.
Certainly, Dundee University’s decision is short-sighted and smacks of a degree of elitist jealousy.
Ian Hastings.6 Clova Avenue,Blairgowrie.
BA strike ban decision unjust
Sir,-Any chance a kind judge may offer me another ballot on the General Election on the grounds that I have not been informed adequately on the number of spoilt ballot papers?
Or is it that BA workers cannot expect fair judgment as they do not eat or drink or mix in the same clubs as judges and employers do?
Alex Falconer.2 Greenacres,Kingseat.
Selective quotation
Sir,-In your editions of May 15, Dr Richard Dixon of WWF Scotland stated that the average temperature for April 2010 in Scotland was almost one degree warmer than the long-term average.
He conveniently forgot to mention that, according to his own WWF Scotland website, February 2010 was the 12th coldest on record and that the past winter was the second-coldest ever.
Douglas W. Tott.Stoneyburn,Bruichladdich,Isle of Islay.
Share land value bounty
Sir,-Your coverage (May 18) of the comments made by finance secretary John Swinney on the M74 extension with the manifold direct and downstream benefits he correctly apportions to it, raises profound issues of public revenue attainment in this era of financial stringency.
The public investment in the M74 extension is approaching £500 million.
This, as attested by the BOC decision to relocate nearer to the new road, is creating increased land value to both industrial and domestic residents.
Yet this increased value of land and site potential, has not come through any entrepreneurial effort of businesses or individuals, but from society as a whole.
Any person or business who purchased land near the new M74 before planning permission and construction, now stands to make huge profits, simply and effortlessly, from society’s decision to allow and finance this construction.
Whatever tax take increase is derived from increased business activity in the new M74 corridor, it is likely only to be a drop in the ocean compared to the increased land rental values that are being lost to the society that created them in the first place, ie the rest of us.
I challenge John Swinney to inform us how he is going to ensure that the full value of the increase in site values, solely brought about by our collective investment, is going to be returned to us?
Ron Greer.Armoury House,Blair Atholl.