WE have seen in the letter columns of the Examiner a barrage of evidence and complaints pertaining to the efficacy of wind turbines. No answer from the Green party was seen.
Then, last week, we saw Clr Andrew Cooper berating us for not understanding that ‘wind power is the future’.
No doubt as a director of the Yorkshire Energy Trust he has an interest in promoting alternative sources of energy. What is beyond doubt, however, is that wind power and solar energy are made economic only by huge subsidies to the producers of these brands.
The cost of electricity is about 13p a unit. There is a subsidy to pay for alternative forms of energy that pays 41p a unit to this otherwise uneconomic production of power.
Taxpayers will be interested to know that in California and Spain, which receive far more sunlight than we do the drain on government resources have proved too much. Germany has taken the same view.
Some may find it a meaningful exercise for the government in our country to pay £8.6bn in subsidies to ‘green’ fuel producers. Some may wonder why our power bills have to increase as well to pay for these follies.
We have to ask, in an era when we are looking to stop the rate of increase in public spending, is this one area missed by the Coalition government that could have been tackled by them?
Kirklees Council should also be wary in investing huge amounts in public housing schemes that involve solar power. It costs an average of £10,000 to pay for sufficient panels to generate enough power to heat a house. Doubts arise about the how long the panels will last and how much maintenance they need.
In assessing how much CO2 gases are saved, no account of production and maintenance has been takenŠ which produce CO2 emissions themselves.
I am sure I do not need to tell readers that even with these panels there is a necessity to receive electricity by normal means.
Renewable energy resources are not self-supporting. They are an industry that can only keep going by the support of the rest of us tax payers.
Bernard McGuin
Marsh
Turbine troubles
IN last Saturday’s Examiner Clr Andrew Cooper said it was time for people to wake up to the realities of wind power and not base decisions on the ferocity of anti-wind campaigns.
Is it not time that Clr Cooper woke up to the reality that wind turbines are not effective and there are a vast majority built because of the subsidies given for wind farms and not for their green energy output?
How many land owners would allow large wind turbines be built on their land if subsidies were removed?
I would like to invite Clr Cooper to visit Birds Edge in my ward to look at the close proximity of the proposed wind turbines and discuss with local residents their fears.
In the ‘BOLT’ action group there are informed residents who have researched the wind power arguments thoroughly and not as Clr Cooper states in his article ‘My principal issue with anti-wind campaigns is they frequently get spurious and selective objections to wind turbines from information derived from the internet regarding epilepsy, exploding bats, ice from the blades decapitating people and the turbines supposedly poor performance.’
I think such a statement demeans those who work so hard to ensure their voices are heard and to get across a well-researched argument against the proposed planning application so close to their village.
We would all welcome investment in renewable energy, but not at the expense of the quality of life for residents throughout the UK living close to inappropriately sited wind turbines. We should put more energy into looking at the other alternatives for renewable energy.
Cllr Cooper should face the facts, stop looking through green tinted glasses and realise that wind power is not the answer to all our renewable energy problems, merely part of finding the right solution.
Clr Jim Dodds
Denby Dale
Bring back buses
PLEASE, service providers, reconsider reinstalling the 321 and 323 buses’ early morning and early evening service. Many elderly people are isolated without these buses. The walk to Netherton village is not possible for many.
Mrs S Clegg
Netherton
Thanks for your help
I WOULD like to thank all the people who came to my aid when I collapsed on Saturday, November 6 in Kingsgate Centre.
Special thanks to the young ones who called an ambulance and the Kingsgate personnel.
I am recovered and very grateful. Thank you.
Mrs B Bushell and family
Cleckheaton
Service pensions
AS a lifelong Conservative I am appalled and disgusted by the announcement that David Cameron’s Government is to cut the pensions of the dependants of our military personnel who have given their lives in the service of our country.
To say that they have to share the cuts as other public services is an insult.
The widow of one soldier said he knew he was in danger but it was his job to be in harm’s way, but he was comforted by the thought that his family would be cared for.
This flagrant disregard of our heroes should not be tolerated. Where would our country and freedom be without them?
Shame on you, Mr Cameron.
J R Wrigley
Paddock
Cutting benefits
THE shake-up to get millions back to work and off benefits has not come too soon. It can’t be right that we have been paying our residents to stay at home ..
Work is good for the soul and good for the health.
I have two misgivings, though. Many of the jobs which will become available will be some distance from people’s homes.
Many bus routes are being downgraded. I don’t think we have the best transport infrastructure in place.
I’m not sure that benefits should disappear if you refuse to do a job. We know that this will increase the crime figures, because everyone needs food.
But the truth is, Britain can no longer afford the massive handouts given by the taxpayer.
T Brown
Birkby
Stinging young and old
WHAT is the difference between scholars having to pay back student loans and pensioners having to use all their savings and sell their homes to pay for their care in the twilight of their days?
Mrs N Clarke
Almondbury
Save St Luke’s
I AM writing to the powers that be to ask why they have to destroy St Luke’s Hospital and build a new one somewhere else instead.
There’s everything needed at St Luke’s already there. My three children were born there, and I had a foot operation there as well.
I go to St Luke’s Bartonian Sunday lunch there every Sunday. We have a nice three course hot meal and meet other people, so we’re not alone all day.
We’re being turfed out after 20-odd years and have to find another place if possible to accommodate more than two dozen people plus all the helpers.
Our last day will be December 5 and we’re all going to our Christmas party on the December 12, and that will be the end as far as we know.
We all know they’re wanting to sell the land so that more houses can be built. I’m sure there are plenty more places they can use. There’s a big car park on St Andrew’s Road where there used to be houses before, as I recall.
I can’t understand it in the ‘economic climate’ it makes sense to pull St Luke’s down.
Think again, you NHS people and try to save St Luke’s. I am a patron and hope to remain so in the future.
Mrs Sheila Jagger
Fartown
Shouting against cuts
IN his letter ‘No-one’s job is safe’ (Mailbag, November 12) R J Bray questions why such a fuss is being made about the loss of public sector jobs when the same thing didn’t happen when the private sector was going through a similar process.
Could it be that these public sector workers do just that? They provide our teachers, classroom assistants, nurses, refuse collectors, crossing patrols, police officers, and more.
They provide the services that we need for a civilised society and when the money is cut and the jobs are gone we will soon realise how much we valued them.
People are already shouting about the loss of youth workers, increases in charges for home care to name but a couple of issues, but sadly this is just the start.
That’s why people are shouting about it.
Cath Ingham
Holmfirth
A superb story
WHAT a superb evening last Saturday – the Story Of A Village in Almondbury! The church was full, as I believe it has been for the other presentations. The sound effects were mind blowing.
Well done to all concerned. I hope it has made a lot of money for church funds.
Jane Renshaw
Almondbury
Ring-fenced cash
KIRKLEES council must have spent at least £1m on the fence around Greenhead Park. It’s only a park, not a gold mine. I hope the council is not thinking of charging people an entrance fee.
Could the money have been better spent on keeping the cost of home care down?
Manjit Singh
Birkby
