Single solution to a double problem

IN his article (Yorkshire Post, October 22), Colin Speakman rightly expresses his sorrow that wind farms are despoiling the countryside and that the Government is forcing us to add to the growing number of road users, adding greatly to the output of CO2.

Could I suggest a remedy for both ills?

Disconnect the wind farms from the National Grid (one less headache for them) and re-route their wavering output to a series of coastal installations which by electrolysis would split sea water (free) into its constituents, namely oxygen, various salts and most important, hydrogen. These products can be stored and reserves built up to cover the periods when the supply of wind power fails.

Work, already advanced, on the means of converting our millions of vehicles to run on hydrogen should become a priority and be given every encouragement. The only emission from a hydrogen-powered vehicle is water.

Less CO2, less imports, less pollution, no further production of windmills and after installation costs etc, a vast reduction in expenditure. Simple.

From: Phil Hanson, Beechmount Close, Baildon, Shipley.

WITH unemployment at increasing levels, I find it ironic and also very worrying in that our Government is dishing out our hard-earned taxes to pay for solar panels being promoted by phone calls from India.

First of all, the payback period is never disclosed, yes there is a payback period even when “free” as we are paying.

Second, with so many people out of work here, why doesn’t the Government promote the concept of Made in Britain Stays in Britain?

The last government wasted enough of our hard-earned cash paying Koreans to make cars for us under the scrappage scheme. Is solar power just as stupid?

What percentage of the content of these solar systems is UK made?

I have yet to see a payback period quoted for solar panels in any press adverts; I guess I will be pushing up daisies before that revelation.

Gap between rich and poor

From: Kendal Wilson, Wharfebank Terrace, Tadcaster.

WHERE general everyday prices are concerned, the Government is in a malign plot with retailers and the like to push up prices so far that those already in a sticky situation, eg unemployed, part-time or otherwise, are compacted into poorly paid positions that really solve nothing at all.

Why? Because we have the largest disparity between the rich and the poor than ever before, sometimes a difference that can be more than one hundred times more than the poorest worker.

I strongly suggest that the Government look again at this and examine the way in which the previous government tried at best to outline forms of subsidy and improve the living wage.

Poorer people are facing a barrage of everyday discrimination, whether it be from a dodgy landlord or uneven, patchy social housing provisions which to many people’s dismay is allocated on a vague tick box system that is barely holistic in its approach.

We do not need Nick Clegg lecturing people on innovation and initiative.

I have watched this trend of speech since 1979. Clearer answers and projects are needed; either rationalised or systemised services in public utilities to at least bring back a baseline to work from where many thousands can be employed and trusted by the public.

Working to stop floods

From: Jeremy Walker, Forestry Commission, North York Moors, Outgang Road, Pickering.

LIKE Mike Potter (Yorkshire Post, October 18), all the agencies involved in the drive to reduce flood risk in Pickering would like to see more progress.

Both the Environment Agency and Natural England, whom Mike Potter criticises, have been key participants in the “Slowing the Flow Partnership”.

Our mission is to improve flood protection for Pickering. So far a total of 150 small dams have been built, 13 hectares of new woodland planted and 370 metres of bankside restored to help slow the flow of flood waters.

We had to shelve plans for two large flood storage areas because of major cost increases. So we are now looking at the scope for more, smaller storage areas instead. These will also have problems. Access, planning, and possible construction in Sites of Special Scientific Interest – as well as cost issues – will all be difficult. Until feasibility studies are complete we will not know whether this new alternative can work.

We are determined to explore all options, working with both Ryedale District Council and Pickering Town Council. Pickering needs a scheme that will make a real difference. This is what we are trying to achieve at a time of an unprecedented squeeze on public money.

Would Jesus be welcome?

From: P J Gray, Shelley Grove, Sprotborough, Doncaster.

I NOTE with wry amusement the clerical reaction to the anti-capitalism protesters camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral.

The clergy have peremptorily disassociated themselves from the movement, worried about their falling revenues, rather than supporting a movement designed to equalise the iniquitous gap between rich and poor in this country. One wonders whether Christ Himself would be welcome in the dysfunctional 21st century Church of England.

Evil leaders deserve to die

From: Paul Emsley, Hellifield.

GIVEN the comments from Amnesty International after Muammar Gaddafi was killed in Libya, I wonder what they would have said if Adolf Hitler had been captured alive?

There are certain members of the human race who are inherently evil and they deserve the revenge of their victims.

It may reduce all of us temporarily to a lower common denominator but the world is a better place when such people are removed from it.

At certain times in history, evil intentions demand a strong leader to achieve the success of a particular outrage, or atrocity. But where that is achieved with the sword, the leaders must expect to die by the sword.