I WRITE in response to the letter (Yorkshire Post, March 20) from Peter Gilman of GMI Group, the company proposing to develop the Willow Green
eco-town near Eggborough and Kellington.

He commences with a massive understatement that "a lot of people in the villages nearby are opposed to the development", but a recent survey showed that as many as 96 per cent were opposed to it.

His letter is long on generalities, but totally lacking in specifics. He refers to seeking advice from experts, but gives no clue as to how he proposes to overcome the existing problem of flooding, let alone the increased flooding probability caused by the new town. Nor does he give us a clue how he intends to get round the fact that there are electricity pylons stretching all the way across the area in question.

There is no mention, either, of avoiding problems associated with existing subsidence caused by past coal mining or by ongoing mining.

There could be 20,000 or more people needing employment, but where are they going to find work? And, how are they going to get there? A railway line already exists between Whitley Bridge and Leeds, but this is already more than filled to capacity. Commuting times to places of employment such as Leeds or York are already about an hour at busy times and will be substantially worse when these thousands hit the roads. What is his answer to this problem and how is it
eco-friendly?

The site proposed is mostly greenfield with a substantial proportion of greenbelt, all currently used as arable
land. He doesn't mention
how this is supposed to fit in with the Government's preference for the use of brownfield sites.

It is understood that to power the town the intention is to
re-open the Eggborough willow-burning power station which will need 200,000 tonnes of biomass fuel per year grown on 150,000 acres of, currently, arable land.

That's a lot of land taken out of its current use growing food at a time when food is becoming scarce and more expensive. Further, it will have to be transported to the power station thus destroying the
eco-friendly claim.

He makes the point that he likes to listen to the thoughts and ideas of local people but goes on to say that this will only happen if or when the site receives approval. This is a sham consultation if ever there was one.

His letter referred to some of the key issues, but provided no answers to any of them.

From: DM Adams, Huddersfield Road, Barnsley.

FINE words from Peter Gilman concerning the proposed Willow Green development near Kellington.

From personal experience, the assurances given by developers, planners and politicians that they will have broad and detailed consultation with the local communities is completely hollow.

They no doubt will meet with the local residents, show an interest but merely ignore or disregard their views afterwards.

Mr Gilman claims that his company is proud of its green credentials. How green is it to tear up agricultural land or encroach on greenbelt to build houses and its associated infrastructure?

Sadly, I feel that the local residents around Kellington and neighbouring villages are facing an uphill battle to prevent the building of 15,000 houses at Willow Green, but I sincerely hope they succeed.


Will history repeat itself at the Olympics?

From: Paul Hudson, Headingley, Leeds.

SEVENTY years ago, the world allowed the Olympic Games to be hosted by Nazi Germany. There were excuses at that time for not boycotting the Games including saying that "sports and politics are entirely different".

At that time, Nazi Germany was able to improve its image, hiding the truth and trying to pass itself off as an open and liberal nation.
Can you see the parallel? That is what China would like to do now; try to pass itself off as a "modern" nation.

Perhaps Berlin is forgotten because it is history. Perhaps we are all too greedy and fear upsetting the Chinese "government". Avery Brundage was then the President of the Olympic Committee, and he upheld the idea that the Olympics was not a place for politics. The same comments seem to be repeated today. If it is not a place for politics, why is China taking this Olympic flame through Tibet? Why has the Olympic committee allowed that to happen?

If these Games go on without protest and "smoothly" as China wants them, then the Chinese government will never awaken from its evil suppression of Tibet and things will only deteriorate further in that country.

Anyone with a sense of justice must feel moved to join the Tibetan people in protests and support them in whatever way possible.

I always thought a sense of justice was part of being British. I always thought fairness and justice was part of the Olympic ideal. Again, perhaps not,

Hitler put on his great show hiding the real Germany of that time because individuals and politicians let him; will the Olympic movement, by mincing words, allow the situation to repeat itself without seeking for truth and justice?


Biofuels and the future of our demand for energy

From: David Holland, Sherwood Avenue, Doncaster.

YES, it is right that Ministers be urged to rethink biofuels policy (Yorkshire Post, March 24), although these fuels must still have a part to play in our overall energy policy.

Biofuels may be an alternative to fossil fuels but they still produce the same problem in so far as they emit carbon dioxide. Yes, it is true that we can perceive this as being carbon neutral because the
bio material has recently absorbed the carbon from the atmosphere as part of the natural carbon cycle. However, we are in danger of letting more and more carbon dioxide in
the above ground part of the carbon cycle thus exacerbating the problem. In the short term, we must cut our emissions.

There is only one way to guarantee a cut in carbon dioxide emissions and that is to limit the amount of carbon released into the system as fuel. However inconvenient this is, it does mean rationing. In the longer term we should be converting as quickly as possible from a carbon economy to a hydrogen economy. Burning hydrogen produces only water as exhaust.

Becoming less dependent on oil would also go a long way to reducing our political tensions in the Middle East.