Keep turbines at set distance from homes

From: Beverley Paddey, Sheffield.

I WILL not argue against the UK’s disastrous policy of subsiding the building of wind turbines, others far more eloquent than I have done this already and continue to do so in the hope that someone listens.

What I do ask is for a campaign to protect those of us who have to live alongside these monstrosities which are being erected on a daily basis all around us.

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I note from the latest House of Commons library document that this government has rejected statutory limits for minimum distances of wind turbines from housing for England; this is unjustified and an affront to those home owners affected.

Scotland has guidance suggesting two kilometres and Wales suggests 500m between a wind turbine and housing. Two Private Member’s Ten Minute Rule Bills have suggested a minimum distance but these have been summarily dismissed as they do not fit with the views 
of current departmental 
thinking and more importantly with the EU directive on CO2 emissions.

Home owners have little to say that can sway planning departments as they themselves are bound by the same rules we have signed up to with the EU - the most hopeful saviour appears to be having a bat in residence! However, as last resort we are entitled to ask for a rate reduction from our local council and, if granted, use this information to sue the developer for compensation. Hey ho!

We urgently need a set minimum separation distance between turbines and the nearest residences.

From: Pat Thomson, Kelly Street, Goldthorpe.

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I WRITE with regard to Jack Blanchard’s article on clean-coal technology (Yorkshire Post, August 29).

Of course the importance of this type of vital energy source has never been under-estimated by the powers that be, but endlessly kicked into the long grass over many years with the sole intention of the destruction of trade union influence.

Of course the apologists keep putting forward such things as windpower but clean coal makes economical sense, environmental sense and will create many jobs in this region.

Please do it now before its too late.

From: Peter Hyde, Kendale view, Driffield.

I HAVE been writing to 
various newspapers for years about the fact that we have millions of tonnes of coal 
under our feet in Yorkshire, 
(Jack Blanchard, Yorkshire Post, August 29).

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Instead we import coal and blight the countryside with wind farms, that cost a fortune both in money and carbon footprint to produce and erect.

We all know that with a little effort we could develop clean coal and use it to produce power and export both the coal and technology to other countries. Why then is not some of the foreign aid used for that purpose as it would both benefit us and othet developing countries?

Mind, given this country’s present record, I don’t really expect any such thing to happen soon.

Call to protect countryside

From: Hilary Fenten, The Shaws, Selside, near Settle.

THANK you for reporting the danger to the Yorkshire countryside due to a proposed wholesale development of housing (Yorkshire Post, August 27). It is difficult to over-emphasise the problems of this fresh determination to build on all green fields, not just the green belt.

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There is a biodiversity crisis – 
in other words nature is not 
doing very well. We are getting rid of the habitats of pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies. When bees disappear, agriculture suffers, just when food shortages are causing increasing concern.

Development of roads, airports, housing estates, etc means that much of our flora and fauna cannot connect with creatures and plants in other (threatened) areas, thus leading to inbreeding and weakness.

Climate change, food shortage, the environment and other concerns must be addressed and we should not make things worse by allowing politicians to try and build themselves out of short term difficulties.

Praise for train staff

From: R Oliver, Chesterfield.

IN response to recent criticism about Northern Rail (Yorkshire Post, August 25), the firm operates the largest rail system in the country – unlike the mainline operations of others – and therefore has to utilise 
all available trains to their maximum and try to accommodate all passengers on the various routes.

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Both correspondents have 
the option of other services, including buses. I note with interest that the East Coast service is blamed for one cancelled train. Who is to blame for that?

Rail personnel can only provide a service which is allowable with the tools that they are allocated and cannot call upon other units as and when required. We are all experts in areas of that which we have no knowledge, experience or information.

One of the reasons that this country is in its present dire state brought about by the experts in Government and those who advise them.

My experience of Northern 
staff is excellent and helpful 
and the numbers who travel through the area every day are enormous but never taken into account when assessing these operations.