Madness of anti-coal power policy

From: Dr Bev Wilkinson, White Grove, Roundhay, Leeds.

NOW that we we have a cold snap, the electorate is beginning to wake up to the crazy national policy on power generation.

We currently obtain 46 per cent of our power from tried and tested coal generation plants which have greatly reduced their noxious emissions over the last few years.

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We produce a good proportion of the coal and can import the rest relatively cheaply from numerous sources.

The plan, already in full swing, is to eliminate all the above over the next eight years or so to replace them with mainly gas powered plants relying on unpredictable supply, predominantly from Russia, at even more unpredictable prices – far higher than we currently pay.

To greatly exacerbate the situation, this and the previous government has signed up to spectacularly expensive subsidies, to be paid for by the consumer, to promote hopelessly expensive and unreliable temporary sources such as wind and solar power, together with huge costs linking these intermittent sources to the grid, when the reliable base producers are forced to step down and run less efficiently.

Reports of decent sensible people leaving their house all day to use public buildings, such as libraries, to afford to keep warm are surfacing but the extent of the full costs of the above policies are only beginning to be generally appreciated.

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This is a monster created by politicians cowing to the diktats of European carbon emission policies while leaving the population, not to mention our industrial base, to suffer, shiver and wither.

It is clear that others in Europe, and in particular Germany, have no serious intention of meeting any such targets.

Army under political fire

From: Melvyn Woodhead, Providence Street, Wakefield.

FOR over 50 years there has been an Army Recruitment Office in Wakefield, yet sadly it is due to close in March this year, all part of the plan to run down the military along with the latest news of over 5,000 Army personnel to be made redundant.

History has shown it is only a matter of time before another war breaks out, and where will we be, as a nation, to defend ourselves? It’s all right thinking it would be a technological war event – how about the possible increase in terrorism on our land?

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A large amount of costs have been put into training and fostering the military; to throw it away is suicidal. Surely, larger numbers of civil servants at Whitehall should be dealt with first?

People behind images of war

From: Stuart Clark, Aberford Road, Garforth.

THE experience of Eric Houlder (Yorkshire Post, January 23) and others concerning the shelling of Scarborough comes as no surprise in my role of organiser for the Association of former members of the Army Film & Photographic Unit 1924-1946.

Frequently young researchers and producers who in a flash 
of inspiration had the bright 
idea of making a feature on 
the Unit, long before research 
has even started, seek my knowledge to which they can add their ill informed and preconceived slant, and usually surprised to learn that the combat cameramen whom they seek to feature are either long gone or the few remaining are past interviews.

Nevertheless, in deference to all those who served in this little known and under acknowledged Unit which recorded military action in all Allied Theatres during the Second World War, I try to meet their needs.

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Interestingly, one of the most compelling and extensively used action photographs was taken by former YP staff photographer, No’s 1 and 2 Units, Len Puttnam, father of Lord David.

Compassion requires time

From: Ms Agnes Campbell, Wall Nook Lane, Cumberworth, Huddersfield.

I READ with interest Nick Summerton’s article (Yorkshire Post, January 11) and don’t doubt that bad practices are experienced in the NHS. However are we the public in danger of focussing on poor service rather than praising how thousands of staff have helped patients?

I have experience of dealing with emergencies and accompanying guests to hospital and have observed some of the issues first hand. My thoughts are that the advances and costs of new technology have suppressed the importance of humanity and compassion in care. To nurture and be compassionate requires certain attributes but most of all it requires time. Time costs money and with greatly reduced staffing within the NHS what can be realistically expected by the officials and members of the public?

Resulting from my own experience, I have founded Caretel, a token towards compassion in care and finding unity in humanity.

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