Continuing landscape desecration

WITH regard to the article (Yorkshire Post, March 15) on John Elsom’s campaign group against Fraisthorpe Wind Farm, I would like to make the point that there is a much wider issue regarding wind turbines around Bridlington and upon the Yorkshire Wolds,

This desecration of the East Riding landscape continues with much varied debate for and against by those sufficiently interested or concerned and those gaining pecuniary advantage over the British people.

It must be said that individual campaign groups are somewhat fragmented and unco-ordinated, each detracting from the others by gaining individual media space.

My concerns are for local people whose lives are to be blighted by turbines – many on fixed incomes – who will have to make serious choices between food and warmth while watching stationary turbines on a cold airless winter’s day.

From: Dave Haskell, Newchapel Road, Boncathm, Pembrokeshire.

I WONDER how the unfortunate communities who have, and are going to have, unwelcomed and inefficient wind farms imposed upon them reacted when Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, recently stated: “There are a lot of wind farms that are being put up to the benefit of local communities.”

Really? Well bless my soul!

This is truly ingenuous and Mr Davey is living in cloud cuckoo land if he believes in this twaddle – I do hope there weren’t any apoplectic fits due to this perfidious offering?

Mr Davey also has claimed that “wind subsidies would fall as wind technology became more efficient and could disappear in the coming years”. Well, how exactly will wind technology become more efficient when it is totally reliant on the wind? No wind, no power, it’s not rocket science after all – has the man no concept at all to this limited, useless and medieval technology?

Guardians of countryside

From: Stephen Cheetham, Salmon & Trout Association, West Yorkshire Branch, Aire Grove, Yeadon, Leeds.

IN reply to Ken Pickles (Yorkshire Post, March 14), we anglers class ourselves as guardians of the countryside and not just out for a good time.

Himalayan or Indian balsam is a native of the western Himalayas and was introduced to Britain in 1839, it escaped from gardens and rapidly colonised river banks and areas of damp ground. It is the tallest annual plant in Britain, growing up to 3m high with very shallow roots.

The characteristic purplish-pink slipper shaped flowers appear in June. When the seed pods mature, they explode when touched, scattering the seed up to 7m. Seeds are also spread by water and they may remain viable for up to two years.

The balsam plants grow in dense stands that suppress the growth of native grasses and other flora. In autumn the plants die back, leaving the banks bare of vegetation, and therefore liable to erosion and this is where the problem lies.

Environmental education is a high priority with S&TA, particularly in bringing young people into angling, teaching them waterside etiquette and safety, and introducing them to environmental issues, including the need to manage and protect fish species and the aquatic and bankside environment on which they depend.

Non-native species are plants or animals which adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally and/or ecologically. They can cause significant problems to our native animals and plants and annually cost millions of pounds to manage. Introduced plants, fish and invertebrate species are a great threat to our native populations. They predate, outcompete and displace native species from their preferred habitats. Some can also spread parasites and introduce novel diseases, to which native populations have no natural immunity. Non native species can cause far-reaching ecological imbalances within watercourses.

Actually, if all people could be educated to the extent that there was no human impact on our water environment, then we wouldn’t need to manage anything – fish and their habitats can look after themselves very well on their own; it is only human interference that poses them a problem.

Governments let us down

From: Michael Ross, Weeton Lane, Dunkeswick.

IT is not only soldiers our politicians have let down as your editorial argues (Yorkshire Post, March 7).

For the last three or four decades the vast majority of the population in this country have been badly let down by successive Governments of whichever party they belong.

Their dereliction of duty and the speed of our downward spiral has been breathtaking, particularly in the last 15 years, and even now they seem to be blissfully unaware, not only of their contribution to the present sad state of most of our everyday systems, but to how they are perceived by the general public and how low they have brought the reputation of Parliament and its members.

To itemise their misdeeds would take more column inches than you have available in this newspaper but above anything else they must be seen to be putting their Houses in order. There must be many honest members of both Houses who cringe at the past and present activities of their colleagues.

They should understand that before they can regain some credibility they must get rid of the many thieves among them who have already been convicted and those suspected must be charged.

The laws of the land must apply to them as much, if not more, than to anyone else and Parliamentary privilege must be strictly curtailed. Until and unless this is seen to be seriously dealt with their reputation and that of the House will continue to spiral downwards, and with it whatever remains of a once great nation.