Wednesday's Letters: Cold weather turns thoughts to need for new power stations

The intervening months to the General Election will be filled with inactivity, other than party canvassing.

The cold spell will probably have turned into balmy spring/summer weather and the energy problem will have withered on the vine. Gordon Brown could enhance his chances of political success by stating that several power station constructions will begin as soon as Parliamentary approval has been given, the date to be scheduled for this month.

Years of reviews, etc will have produced enough factual information to debate and delaying tactics should be brushed aside. Such a positive approach would surely meet with approval by the population irrespective of any political hue. As for the new EU pollution rules, if these have to be overruled by the UK, so be it. Speed is of the essence.

From: David H Rhodes, Keble Park North, Bishopthorpe, York.

From: DM Loxley, Hartoft, Pickering.

NEWS of the proposals for nine new off-shore wind-farm developments will bring joy to the hearts of some, others will regard them as a pestilence and very many will be quite unimpassioned (Yorkshire Post, January 9).

What does one get for the money? The Hornsea site details are

obfuscated in some media reports, being reported as a part of the whole. But a little translation reveals that about 975 windmills will be installed, each with a power capacity of 5MW. These are big machines, the propellers are 98 metres in diameter.

If the nearest to the shore is 10km distant, the full disc of the rotor will appear as large as a full moon on a clear night. The most distant fully visible disc will be 30km away. Impressive … or a blot on the seascape?

When these are running, we will experience some wobbly electricity until such time as generation dependant loads are created. Electricity generation is load dependent at present.

Processes such as water treatment, waste treatment, hydrogen and synthetic oil (as a stored fuel) fit this concept. Their production is not critical within many hours and shift pattern operation will allow a good electricity system frequency and stability control.

From: Dr Gerry Wolff, Penlon, Menai Bridge, Anglesey.

ONE way to reduce our dependence on gas (Tony Lodge: "Cold snap sends shivers through energy policy", Yorkshire Post, January 7) is a national programme of super insulation of homes and public buildings, much more vigorous than anything we have seen so far.

Since most buildings are heated by gas, and since good insulation can dramatically reduce the need for heating, upgrading of the nation's stock of buildings could save gas, save money, reduce emissions of CO2, reduce deaths from hypothermia, and increase levels of comfort as well.

From: Steven W Beasley, Wadsworth, Hebden Bridge.

THROUGHOUT this long spell of extremely cold weather when temperatures have plummeted below –17C, just two degrees warmer than the Antarctic, and the wind has been no more than a mere puff of air, the wind power stations that now litter Yorkshire's hills have contributed absolutely nothing.

The stark white turbines at Ovenden Moor, Halifax, after many days of bitterly cold are still hanging limp, like crucified martyrs at Golgotha.

These are the dead icons of the Green alternative.

From: Frank Sharp, Skircoat Lodge, Skircoat Green, Halifax.

THE article by Chris Bond (Yorkshire Post, January 7) about the winter of 1946-47 was very interesting. I was in the Army serving in Palestine at the time. I came home on leave in February 1947, I don't remember if it was for two or four weeks, but I remember all I did was shovel snow, clearing a yard that led to goods vehicle garages. The snow just kept coming, until eventually we had difficulty finding somewhere to put it.

It was that cold during the big freeze in Halifax it froze some of the water pipes under the streets. As the saying goes: "They ain't seen nothing yet."

From: David W Wright, Uppleby, Easingwold, North Yorkshire.

THE wintry weather has shown just how far our standards have deteriorated, as we appear unable to cope with the gritting of our roads and pavements, as well as closing down schools at the slightest sign of snow and frost, and everybody panic buying food.

It is obvious that we are more concerned about health and safety and the compensation culture and we have become so incapable of using common sense that the myriads of bureaucrats, social workers, politicians (not to mention the dreaded EU and its countless directives and regulations) overrule our basic needs and practical efforts to combat these weather conditions.

We have far too many chiefs and not enough Indians to keep our declining country afloat.

From: CE Hallas, Cubley Rise Road, Penistone, Sheffield.

IT'S now dusk and through the window I see the snow still falling as it has without pause since before daybreak. No car has attempted our steep road today, and as the snow reached a depth of 12in I have a strange feeling that something in our daily lives is missing, but what is it? And then it comes to me.

Whatever could have happened to all those global warmers we see every day on TV and in the newspapers?

Political cleansing is needed

From: George Catherall, Church Lane, Fylingthorpe, Whitby.

IT comes as no surprise to learn that bankers destroy 7 for every pound they create.

So finds the New Economic Foundation think tank. It rated different jobs as to how much they helped or hindered society. Lo and behold, bankers, advertising executives and tax accountants have a "damaging social effect". In contrast, it points out that such occupations as cleaners, waste recycling workers and childcare workers are the "wealth creators" and their contribution is underestimated. This should be reflected in national pay differentials.

I'm sure most of us instinctively knew this was the case and it might lead us to think about the social and economic costs of politicians and by extension government.

Does it help or hinder society? How valuable or detrimental is it to society? And what is the economic and social cost?

I rather suspect the answers to these questions would be very much in the negative, ie, that government hugely hinders society, is highly detrimental and astronomically costly. What do readers think?

If it was established through think tank methodology that government was, in fact, a huge detriment to society, what could be done about it? A personal view is that tinkering at the margins of the system of government will achieve nothing and fundamental to any radical change is a need for a strong dose of political cleansing and an infusion of moral regeneration. Think tank, think on.

Fuel 'means test' unfair

From: Geoffrey Robert Thorpe, Lister Avenue, East Bowling, Bradford.

I WOULD like to reply to Roger Crossley of Barnsley (Yorkshire Post, January 5) regarding the winter fuel allowance. If means testing is brought into play, the people who have saved for retirement will be penalised. Many people who retired in the last year and invested for retirement will now have to draw on the capital as interest is little or nothing.

People who have not been able to save owing to being in low-paid jobs, or suffering from medical problems, need this, but unfortunately when means testing is introduced, the very needy seem to miss out.

There has been talk about introducing means testing for winter fuel payments. David Cameron has mentioned doing this if he is the next Prime Minister.

To help people who have managed to save for a good retirement, there should be a 250 allowance against income tax. Why these people should be penalised because they have saved or invested for retirement is wrong. It will stop people saving if there is no incentive.

Many people who have paid little or nothing into the system receive winter fuel allowance and other payments, and are not penalised.

Marvellous value of post

From: Ken Brooke, Main Street, Leconfield.

May I refer to Michael Green's letter regarding the proposed increase in the price of first and second class stamps (Yorkshire Post, January 4).

It would seem to me that the Royal Mail should be commended for not increasing the postal rates for businesses. I am sure that at this time, many businesses need all the help that they can receive, and can only benefit the country as a whole, to aid the recovery from this present recession.

As for the increase in domestic rates, Michael must remember that for 41p he can send a letter from his Leeds home to the Outer Hebrides by first class delivery. Now call me naive if you wish, but I for one think that is marvellous value.

Long may the Royal Mail continue to be our main provider of our mail services. Without them, those far flung places in the United Kingdom would have no service at all, or alternatively, customers would have to pay an increase in pounds rather than pence.

Give thanks that good old radio still thrives

From: Paul Alexander Sherwood, South Kilvington, Thirsk.

I AM not much of a television addict, possibly watching about 10 hours a week, and have therefore never considered opting for some pay-to-watch service offered by cable or satellite installations.

My pay to watch service (by way of a licence fee) covers five channels, and more appaling rubbish on the freeview service.

On these five channels, over the past two weeks we have had just over 200 extremely dated films thrust upon us, the oldest being produced in 1939; followed daily by one from the 1940s and a similar daily dose of each decade up to the 1980s. Even films from the 1990s are in excess of an average of 15 years-old.

Half of these films were from the 2000s, which I can assume is an acceptable vintage, but who on earth wants to watch technically inferior old films from more than 30 years ago – apart from a film historian?

The obvious reasoning is that all the television service providers have little financial outlay, apart from a bit in royalties, when they churn out this generally unwanted garbage.

This, of course, also is evident in the huge number of repeats of old programmes that surface each Christmas – the only outlay is a few pounds in royalties. No need for much in the way of technical production staff over the holiday period.

But, alas, there is now a new phenomenon. Not satisfied with churning out repeats, we now get compilation repeats, in which some unheard of nonentity, that claims some form of celebrity status, has to "front" a programme of what he or she thinks is funny or interesting, or good or bad.

Thankfully, there is an off switch, and good old radio thrives.

Led by donkeys

From: W Ruddlesdin, Upper Hoyland Road, Hoyland, Barnsley.

WATCHING Prime Minister's Question Time on television recently, I was rather bemused by the constant braying emitted from the mouths of our politicians within the "stable" of the House of Commons.

We really are a nation led by donkeys.