Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, Your leader about the prospects for renewable energy in Scotland (September 29) is very over-optimistic.
In reality, the ”product” is virtually useless, yielding only a paltry trickle of electric power, and not when it’s most needed, in cold weather.
During the last two winters’ snow and ice, the 3,500 or so wind turbines, two-thirds foreign owned, produced well under 1% of the UK’s electricity. At most, they yield about 5% of the total.
The renewables industry would collapse without subsidies from taxpayers. It gives no benefit in cutting CO2 output nor, in other countries’ experience, net job creation.
The financial effect is to transfer money from electricity bill payers to already rich, developers, landowners and manufacturers, mainly foreign.
Why, then, are politicians in both Scotland and down south backing the renewables? Why are (impossible) targets imposed for proportions of power from renewables or reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, etc.?
As your editorial states, decisions must be taken about power generation.
Fortunately, shale gas is plentiful and, given safety in its recovery, promises true prosperity.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.Viewlands Road West,Perth.
Salmon numbers far from certain
Sir, Hugh Campbell Adamson states quite categorically (September 24) that ”the South Esk is a problem” with regards to salmon stocks.
There is not and has never been a fish counter on the river, so there cannot be any definitive record of numbers of fish.
In fact we have absolutely no idea how many salmon run the South Esk to spawn and yet Hugh, a North Esk fishery owner, states that the South Esk is a problem.
How does he come by this information? The answer is that he uses the statistical information on fish catches provided by the various beats on the river, an obviously flawed system.
Salmon are renowned for waving at anglers as they swim past them upstream on their spawning run.
Additionally, in recent years, the Esk District Salmon Fisheries Board and fishery owners have imposed restrictions on methods and tackle which further reduce the angler’s ability to catch salmon.
Many anglers have voted with their feet and are now fishing elsewhere.
All of the above means that fewer salmon are being caught.
The general consensus of anglers and fishery owners on the South Esk is that this year’s salmon run has been excellent, one owner for instance stating that it is the best salmon season since the 1960s.
For a more in tune view of the river, it is well worth having a look at the Finavon Castle Fishings website rather than the depressing picture painted by Hugh.
Ross Watson.Angusdale,Main Road,Westmuir.
Speed impact on carbon targets
Sir, Every weekend we read reports of fatal and serious accidents on our motorways and roads, yet the Transport Secretary proposes to increase the motorway speed limit to 80mph.
What happened to the energy-saving and carbon reduction targets?
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
Why Netherlea is so important
Sir, I have been hoping that Graham Watson and the Glenrothes and North-East Fife Community Health Partnership would listen to people who know why Netherlea Hospital is needed.
I write as one who recently had a relative cared for in Netherlea. She was elderly, nearing the end of life, and had been in Ninewells, where she had been quite agitated.
As soon as she was moved to Netherlea she was content because of the wonderful care. There was no question of her being able to be cared for ”in the community”. She was, though, cared for ”in her community”.
That made it easy for relatives and friends to visit regularly, I cannot emphasize enough how important it was to have her close by.
Despite the hospital being full throughout her stay, the nurses were attentive, and good-humoured and always welcoming. There were no set visiting times.
It would be quite wrong for this hospital to close and for patients to have to go to St Andrews or Cupar.
The combined population of Newport, Wormit, Tayport and the surrounding area is roughly 12,000 some 4,000 more than Cupar. So why is Cupar entitled to an in-patient facility yet we are not?
We may be as far from Glenrothes as it is possible to be within Fife, but we pay our taxes and are entitled to more consideration.
Ruth Gordon.Willowbrae,Tayport.
Adjacent site might be best for all
Sir, Might I propose a solution to the Pitcairn travellers’ site problem?
There is a permanent travellers’ site at Cartmore Industrial Estate, Lochgelly. The distance from the A92 to this site is only marginally different than the distance to Pitcairn.
There is room at Cartmore for an adjacent temporary site. Travellers would be close to people who empathised with them and the kids would have playmates.
Ron Yeoman.162 Jamphlars Road, Cardenden.
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.