Customers have paid for privatisation

I AM tired of hearing various people on the media, some of whom should know better, bemoaning the fact that the Government are not doing anything about the increased prices in power to the domestic market. What do they expect the Government to do? The clue is in the fact that these companies have been privatised.

I dare bet that many of the people complaining the loudest were amongst those who couldn’t wait to make a fast buck when the shares came on the market.

I cannot think that if all the King’s horses and all the King’s men tried to make Tesco, Sainsbury’s et al to jump to their tune they would receive short shrift. Similarly the power companies, many of whom, if you hadn’t noticed, are owned wholly or in part by foreign companies.

Privatisation was a huge mistake if people want the Government to have any control and it’s much too late to complain about it.

Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that if they had remained nationalised that prices would have been any more acceptable.

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

THERE is now talk I see of energy bills going up for a good number of years (Yorkshire Post, November 13). To me this means we should adopt a two-pronged approach.

Firstly, we must ensure that we have sufficient supplies. To me this does mean renewables, also coupled with coal, which I’m sure can be obtained in a more environmentally-friendly manner. Both sources are available from our own land and surroundings, and so we shouldn’t have to be at the mercy of foreign supplies.

Personally, I find it amazing that we import coal from places such as Poland rather than digging under our own feet.

Secondly, consideration should be given to renationalising the energy companies. Then we can have greater control of prices, without monies having to be found to give to shareholders while millions live in fuel poverty.

HS2 will wreck countryside

From: Mrs Linda Precious, Neville Grove, Swillington, Leeds.

HS2 is not needed. It’s too costly and England is not big enough for trains hurtling through countryside next to houses, businesses etc, destroying farms, meadows and pastures also.

There will be two lines east of Leeds, as one goes north of Garforth to York and the other through south Leeds. There will be a loud whoosh every time a train goes past. The countryside will be destroyed east of Leeds, especially the side of the M1. Many people are not aware of the impact it will have. The money would be better spent upgrading the existing network to benefit more travellers.

From: Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Saltaire, Bradford.

LEEDS and Sheffield are connected to Birmingham by the cross country train, the full route running form Aberdeen to Penzance.

HS2 via Birmingham is not the direct route from London to the two largest cities in Yorkshire.

Council has acted on noise

From: Andy Wallhead, Wakefield Council, Corporate Director for regeneration and economic growth.

YOUR letter ‘Deafening tale of two cities’ (Yorkshire Post, November 12) suggests that Wakefield Council has not been acting on complaints about noise from a local hotel.

I can confirm that we have had a number of noise complaints about the St Pierre Hotel in Wakefield over the years and every time we have investigated and taken any action necessary.

It is not always possible to make the place where people live as quiet as they would like it to be, but we do our best and would like to reassure all those who feel they are being unreasonably affected by noise from a neighbour, whether they be domestic or commercial, that they can contact the council on 08458 506 506 and we will investigate and take action where appropriate.

Questions over EU membership

From: Rodney Atkinson, Meadowfield Road, Stocksfield, Northumberland.

IT is worrying how naively the British people have answered polls on leaving the European Union (or rather re-establishing our country, parliament and democracy).

I suggest that if the true position were put to the British people in an honest way they would opt for their own country, Parliament and democracy trading freely with our European friends.

But that assumes that the question put to the electorate would be in the form of these alternative statements: “I want the UK to accept the renegotiated membership of the European Union” or “I want the UK to form a free trading self-governing relationship with the European Union” put in two separate boxes at the same level on the ballot paper.

Perhaps we can shame the manipulating Government into making that the alternative at the actual referendum – if it ever takes place!

Beware pests 
in beauty spot

From: Charles Taylor, Hemingfield Road, Hemingfield, Barnsley.

I COULDN’T help being touched by Delia Dove’s delight (Yorkshire Post, November 11) in her relocation to the Caithness area of Scotland, an area I have come to know well over the years.

There is, however, one thing she needs to beware of, and that is lauding it to the world at large. More bungalows, more cars, more dogs, more people, destroys the very thing that makes it as wonderful as it is (described as ’the last great unspoiled wilderness in the British Isles’).

So, in an effort to reverse some of the damage she may have done, let me emphasise that her experience of the Scottish midges sounds relatively slight – they are actually 10 times worse and more pervasive and vicious than she describes them. Sitting outside on a fine still day up there is quite impossible. My advice to readers is stay down here in Yorkshire and just occasionally go up there on holiday, ideally in wild and windy weather!