Letters: Wind turbines

How a wind turbine was banned on environmental grounds

Sir: In July I set out with an apparently simple aim: to have an accredited, domestic-sized, 1kW wind turbine installed.

A month earlier, Parliament had approved the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill, which would enable the installation of such micro-generators without forcing most householders to tackle the rigmarole of planning consent.

Three hurdles soon appeared. Scottish and Southern, our electricity supplier, would currently fail to allow credit for surplus power fed back into the grid by our small turbine. Implementation of Parliament's bill has been deferred; so I decided to apply to Erewash Borough Council for planning consent. Their response now forms the unexpected third hurdle: after seven weeks' delay, planning permission was refused - on "environmental" grounds!

Of course, wind-turbine technology would be a new arrival within the many quiet urban districts of close-packed properties around here, and it may have to overcome recent adverse publicity. Surely, official refusal would be temporary, but a suspicion remained that "environmental" here was a euphemism for fear of the unknown. So, to assist all sides, I suggested a form of temporary consent which would give space for any tests necessary to measure any "intrusive" noise-levels or other nuisance. That, too, has been categorically refused.

I am appalled. How strong is official support for households proposing such a theoretically approved way of reducing their CO2 emissions? The Government's own "low carbon buildings" programme even offers grants for such installations if stringent conditions are met, which our survey seemed to satisfy.

Maybe this "blip" will prove temporary. It is nevertheless sad that the household must, it seems, continue to add its normal quota of CO2 to the atmosphere - and listen to all that good winter wind going to waste.

TONY ALLCOCK

LONG EATON, DERBYSHIRE

Sir: At the bottom of your article "B-52 bomber takes test flight using synthetic fuel" (23 September) we see that "the [US] Air Force currently uses 2.6 billion US gallons of jet fuel a year, at a cost of $4.5 bn (£2.4 bn)".

We never hear a word about the climate costs of war: of bombing flights; training flights; maintaining, supplying and transporting armies; manufacturing and globally trading arms; or of oil wells in flames. As millions begin to work out how we can cut our personal carbon use no sacrifice is demanded of the killing industry.

RUTH HALL

LONDON NW6

Too thrifty to be allowed to save

Sir: You report that the British are Europe's biggest borrowers (28 September).

I have recently discovered that following Polonius' precept - "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" - has worked against me. When I tried to invest some money in Post Office Instant Saver, my application was rejected and my cheque returned. The letter of rejection stated: "We have carefully considered your application and applied our normal money laundering verification process, through credit referencing agencies. Unfortunately, based on this analysis, our criteria does [sic] not permit us to offer you a Savings product at present."

Following this up with the credit referencing agency used by Post Office Savings, I was told that their reason for the rejection was that they had no data on me, because during the past six years I had never had any kind of loan arrangement. I could therefore not be excluded from the category of being a risk.

What moral can one draw from this? As a pensioner, having been brought up in an age when the above precept was more commonly adhered to, I find all this perplexing.

MARGORIE FISHER

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, WARWICKSHIRE

Sir: Your economics correspondent writes that our staggering levels of debt do not matter too much because of the increasing assets of those lucky enough to be on the housing ladder.

What I never see mentioned is exactly where that extra wealth originates. If Joe Bloggs buys a house for £50,000 and sells it a little later for £200,000, where has that £150,000 come from? Is it not in effect a tax on the next generation, who will have to pay an enormous mortgage to buy the same product?

Do we really inhabit a society that will disintegrate if we all stop buying things we don't need and can't afford with money we haven't got? Or have I totally misunderstood economics.

NOVA BROCKBANK

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

Policing in Blair's kind of democracy

Sir: One of Tony Blair's most important domestic achievements has to be the greater sense of security we now enjoy in Britain. I saw this in action in the centre of Manchester on Wednesday afternoon, in St Peter's Square, near the site of the Peterloo massacre.

A small group of protesters made the threatening gesture of attempting to release balloons into the air bearing messages of peace and opposition to war. This disturbance of the peace was dealt with quickly and effectively by members of the huge police force present there, who surrounded, then jostled, pushed and threatened those involved, including children and the elderly.

Whilst watching this take place I was issued a warning for committing a public order offence. Another young man observing these events wasn't so fortunate; for committing the crime of asking the police if they thought their response was excessive, he was wrestled to the ground by six officers, arrested, had a DNA sample taken and given an £80 fine.

It's lucky that so many police officers were drafted into Manchester from around the UK to deal with all the serious crimes committed during this Labour party conference. We were questioned by officers from Redditch in Worcestershire, whilst armed men helped a convicted armed robber escape from a custody vehicle in that very same town.

One young PC told us that we were lucky to be living in a democracy. In Tony Blair's Britain, who dares to even question it ?

JAMES ALFRED

MANCHESTER

Sir: "Well done, Cherie," says Gordon Elliot (letter, 27 September). Which was well done? The comment she allegedly made about Gordon Brown, overheard by a "respectable journalist" from a "respected agency" - to quote the BBC (so it must be true then) - or the clear denial by the QC and judge, Cherie Blair, made before millions on TV and radio, that she passed such a comment?

RAY CRAIG

INSCH, ABERDEENSHIRE

Sir: Rt Hon Tony Blair (2006, Manchester): "In the years to come, wherever I am, whatever I do. I'm with you."

Jesus Christ (AD 30, Judaea): "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Gospel of St Matthew)

The Messiah liveth!

RICHARD WOODWARD

LONG EATON, DERBYSHIRE

The cruelties of history

Sir: Lyn Julius (Letters, 27 September) tells the Palestinians to accept their displaced fate because "history is cruel". What a shame Lyn Julius was not in charge of British foreign policy in the first half of the 20th century. Think of all the terrorism, death and destruction that could have been avoided if the Zionists had been given the same message when they demanded a chunk of Palestine.

HARRY PERRY

LEICESTER

Sir: With last year's withdrawal of Israeli civilians and soldiers to the internationally recognised borders of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians were, yet again, presented with the opportunity to choose between guns and butter. As in the past they chose guns.

They appear to have plenty of money for arms, ammunition, explosives and the materials and manpower to manufacture crude but deadly rockets to fire at Israeli civilians. It is disingenuous of the Palestinians and their supporters to place the blame for their suffering on Israel. To a very large extent the solution to their problems lies with the Palestinians themselves. Were they to chose to feed there own people instead of trying to kill Israelis I am sure that Israel would respond in kind.

DR TOM WEINBERGER

JERUSALEM

Captain Scott's fatal error: no Marmite

Sir: Marmalade is of course a fine breakfast but its subtle charms can in no way compare to the vivacious slap in the face that thickly spread Marmite delivers. Your editorial of 22 September told us how Scott took marmalade not Marmite to the Antarctic and I can't help but think that if he had chosen differently he might have made it back.

MELVYN WILLIAMS

SWANSEA

Sir: Does anybody have a recipe for moules marinières (letter, 28 September) with Marmite?

DAVID MCNICKLE

ST. ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE

Sir: Enough already with this Marmite mayhem! We must move on. This is, after all, the 21st century. Let us therefore address a more noble inquiry, namely, the ineffable relishment of the venerable Patum Peperium. I blend a snick of it with olive oil as a dressing for spaghetti.

G FAIELLA

LONDON SW19

What are exams meant to test?

Sir: I support the views of Trevor Fisher in his excellent letter (26 September) about coursework and the decline in the credibility of public exams. To his statement about the parental involvement and plagiarism at A-level I would add that an English essay is first drafted, then submitted for comments, and then redrafted and submitted for further comments, before being finally submitted; the teacher's influence is, therefore, enormous and with the exam being reduced from 70 per cent to 60 per cent it is going to get even more decisive.

I listened very closely to Alan Johnson being interviewed recently by Andrew Marr. What was worrying was that he did not reveal any real understanding of the nature of coursework; without going through the system it is not easy to acquire this as it does vary across the subjects. His opposite number in the Shadow Cabinet appears to know more but is advocating "invigilated coursework" - an oxymoron I am still brooding on.

JOHN CHAMBERS

BATH

Sir: Mr Fisher claims that with the growth of internet-based plagiarism, coursework is no longer viable. Yet I would argue that being able to locate, discern and utilise good information is the real skill employers need.

The world has changed and it is our duty to our children for education to move with it, not just do things because it has always been done that way. The purpose of education is to prepare pupils for the rest of their life. Assessment is merely a part of that. Exams simply test short-term memory and many educationalists see them as a barrier to better teaching and learning.

TOM WEAVER

EDUCATIONAL SPACE DESIGN CONSULTANT, LONDON E14

Bands that brought jazz to Britain

Sir: With due sympathy for the sub-editor who had to summarise the fascinating report (19 September) on the disaster that hit Will Marion Cook's Southern Syncopated Orchestra in 1921 en route to Ireland, the headline "Tragic band that brought jazz to Britain" is somewhat misleading.

As the report states, it was indeed "the first big band to popularise black music in Britain". Jazz itself was introduced here by the all-white five-piece Original Dixieland Jazz Band, engaged for a London Hippodrome revue. They were sacked after the opening night, on 7 April 1919, because the star, George Robey, disliked their music.

The ODJB - always known in jazz circles by those initials - moved on to the Palladium, and memorably the Hammersmith Palais, to great popular acclaim.

MURRAY HEDGCOCK

LONDON SW14

Grammar battle

Sir: M H Whitestone (Letters, 26 September) refers to a grammatical error in Gordon Brown's carefully prepared speech at the Labour conference. Please add to the list this from the BBC's senior political reporter: "They held the page back from we journalists." I have long suggested to the BBC that it install a language advising facility for grammar and vocabulary. I hereby make the same suggestion to our political parties.

IAN BRUTON-SIMMONDS

LONDON SE18

Sir: M H Whitestone implies that Gordon Brown saying "My mother taught my brothers and I ..." is not proper English. This is a matter of preference similar to the choice of whether to Marmite or not to Marmite. I will judge Mr Brown on his policies and actions. Please, no grammar fascism here.

NICHOLAS WATERS

VÄXJÖ, SWEDEN

Plastic bags routed

Sir: Alison Tilbe (letter, 27 September) complains about plastic bags. Since 2003 the Irish government has had a 15c (about 10p) tax on plastic carrier bags. It has been a marvellous success, almost immediately eliminating the plastic bags which were clogging up Ireland's hedgerows and at the same time providing a revenue stream which was used to support environmental projects. It had been proof that people's behaviour can be changed with a small financial disincentive.

NIALL TWAMLEY

CORK, IRELAND

Welcome migrants

Sir: It is excellent news that Romania and Bulgaria will be joining the European Union next year. Whilst our government is correct to continually review policy on sustainable migration, it is vital that siren voices calling for strict restrictions are dismissed. Since 2004 Eastern European migrants have provided immense benefits to this country. In comparison, in countries such as France and Germany, which sought to prevent such European migration, foreign workers operate in an unregulated black market of labour, unable to contribute tax revenue to the national treasury.

KEITH VAZ MP

(LEICESTER E, LAB) HOUSE OF COMMONS

Cooper's old friend

Sir: Oh no! Are we now to endure a long-running correspondence about whether or not P Toogood, who claims a previous acquaintance with Cooper Brown (letter, 28 September), is real?

Yours in despair

POLLY FALLOWS

MANCHESTER