Letters: At last politicians are waking up to the folly of the net-zero crusade

SIR – It seems that common sense has triumphed and scientists who question the rush to net zero have been heeded (“Sunak grants licences to drill for oil and gas”, report, August 1). 

The Prime Minister acknowledged that oil and gas will have a role for decades to come. He has snubbed a cheeky reporter who criticised his use of jet planes. The serious damage of the green crusade is being admitted by the Government. No longer are those of us who pay for gas and electricity being cancelled and ignored. Could it be that our rulers have realised the general election is approaching? 

John Pritchard
Ingatestone, Essex

SIR – If we become reliant on the National Grid for our transport, industry, heating and other services, our energy security will be severely compromised – regardless of the diversity of the electricity supply. 

We only need a serious winter storm or an attack by an unfriendly agent to cause significant damage to the electricity network, with potentially life-threatening consequences. 

The problem will be exacerbated by inability to charge electric vehicles, hampering the supply of aid. It is a fundamental principle that a system is only as strong as its weakest link.

Alan Hughes
Thurso, Caithness

SIR – Has the proposed ban on new gas boilers been fully thought through? 

The current absence of a credible alternative for all types of property will lead to thousands of households soldiering on with increasingly inefficient and potentially dangerous gas boilers that they are unable to replace, because they cannot afford a heat pump, or are unwilling to act as guinea pigs for a technology whose long-term reliability is unproven.

Beware the law of unintended consequences.

Hilary Aitken 
Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire

SIR – Six years ago I contracted with Hive (part of British Gas) for a boiler-control system, and later two inside cameras and one for outside. Recently Hive warned me that, in its efforts to achieve net zero, it would cease supporting the two internal cameras. 

On Tuesday they became useless and will add to the mountain of electrical devices allegedly sent for recycling. The other camera is under threat. 

What is Hive’s definition of net zero?

Brian Smith
Wadhurst, East Sussex

SIR – You report (August 1) the detrimental effects on children’s mental health of Covid lockdowns. 

How much more devastating is the bombardment of messages of despair about the future of humanity? I remember how I felt in 1965, aged 13, on reading Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, unable to apply an adult perspective. How much worse for the young today?

Jane Kelly
Clevedon, Somerset
 

Value of NHS 111

SIR – The NHS 111 helpline is essential (Letters, July 29) – and was even more so during the pandemic, when my husband was seriously ill.
 
Back then, I tried repeatedly to get a GP appointment, but was only offered a urine and blood test, despite my husband’s worsening symptoms. In desperation I dialled 111 and explained his condition. A doctor phoned back immediately, spoke to him and sent for an ambulance. My husband was diagnosed with Covid and kidney failure. 

Thankfully 111 took me seriously when the GP did not.

Heather Remblance
Apperley, Gloucestershire

SIR – I have just received a bulletin from my local GP surgery, containing a lengthy article on how to survive very hot weather. I know that GPs are busy, but they must go outside sometimes.

Violet Hooper
Yatton, Somerset
 

Defective detectives

SIR – As a retired British police officer, I fear that if a future Labour government goes ahead with its decision to directly recruit detectives (report, July 31), it will be the beginning of the end for law enforcement in Britain.

How does it expect new graduate recruits to parachute in and learn the necessary advanced interview and detection techniques if they have never spent time on the streets interacting with the public?

The parlous state of law and order in this country is directly attributable to decades of interference by politicians who simply haven’t got a clue.

Alan G Barstow
Onslunda, Skåne County, Sweden
 

Battle of the birds

SIR – As the kingfisher has been proposed as Britain’s most beautiful bird (Letters, August 1), may I suggest the sparrowhawk as our most impressive? 

I was working on the edge of a woodland in Somerset, and as I looked into the trees I saw a sparrowhawk slaloming silently toward me. 

As it neared, it adopted its trademark pose, pushing its talons out and wings back, before plunging into the hedge beside me, plucking out a small bird for lunch, and flying off. I was frozen in admiration.

Rob Williamson
Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire 
 

Rather a mouthful

SIR – The device described by Dr Philip Hickman (Letters, July 31) was available as a trendy tool in Germany in the 1990s, and is called an Eierschalensollbruchstellenverur-sacher (literally “egg shell predetermined breaking point causer”, or “punch bell egg cracker”). It is sold by Take2 as the Clack Classik.

Pete MacMorrogh
Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

SIR – It must be remembered that the spoonful of egg from the top of a decapitated boiled egg is a Symond’s Yat, as defined in Douglas Adams and John Lloyd’s The Meaning of Liff.

Keith Macpherson
Clevedon, Somerset

SIR – We owned a rental property and the agent produced a Schedule of Contents for the incoming tenant. This was, presumably, prepared by a younger person as, in the kitchen cupboards, there were “six shot glasses in the shape of chickens” – egg cups to you and me.

Alan Green
Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
 

Bank closures

SIR – Norman Parker (Letters, August 1) is correct in saying that banks really don’t care about their customers.

Our local Barclays closed and sent us all to online banking. This wasn’t a problem until we were required to update its app. My iPad won’t accept this and I am now completely in the dark about our finances. Perhaps Barclays will send me a new iPad. 

Judith Barnes
St Ives, Huntingdonshire 

SIR – We lost our branch of NatWest in Whitehaven last year, after banking with the company for more than 70 years. With no apology, we were told the bank would close and the account would be moved to Workington, four miles to the north, with the nearest cash point at Egremont, four miles to the south. 

The news was worded as if this was just a day-to-day business decision.

Tom Stout
Whitehaven, Cumbria
 

Ashes conduct

SIR – England’s superiority in the drawn fourth Ashes Test and triumph in the fifth (Sport, August 1), resulting in a two-two overall score, earned a moral victory in the series. 

Apart from a couple of spats, play has been conducted in a respectful manner, avoiding the vitriol we’ve seen in previous series. Australia should share the credit for that.

Richard Symington
London SW17

SIR – During the exciting fifth Ashes Test, I’ve been reading John Arlott’s book about another brilliant England fast bowler: Fred Trueman (“Broad bows out on a high as England level Ashes”, Sport, August 1).

In 1952, when India began its second innings on the Saturday of the Headingley Test with a good chance of winning, Trueman, on his Test debut, was accused of having written the script himself. “Aye”, he said, “and I made myself principal boy.” He took three of the first four Indian wickets for no runs, precipitating an England win. 

I think Stuart Broad is an even better scriptwriter.

Roy Bailey
Great Shefford, Berkshire
 

Ice in wine

SIR – I have been drinking rosé with an ice cube for 20 years (Features, August 1) – ever since a friend from Monaco told me that there it’s called a piscine and is acceptable.

Julia Evans 
Trewellard, Cornwall
 

The mysterious power conferred by a kilt

SIR – Prince William is being urged to embrace the kilt (Commentary, July 31). As a Scottish country dancer, I’ve see a fair number of kilts over the years. Some have been too long, some too short, and one was even worn back to front. However, as a cutting I kept from your newspaper says: “Kilts have special powers. A man in a kilt always feels more manly, and a manly man is at his most attractive in a kilt.”

I couldn’t disagree with that.

Gillian Coyle
Cockermouth, Cumbria

SIR – When I was growing up in Edinburgh, kilts were as rare as hen’s teeth, worn by soldiers in the Highland regiments and by members of Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band. 

It is only in recent years that they have become popular with young bridegrooms, though not always worn with dignity. Prior to that, bridegrooms were much more likely to be attired in the claw-hammer coat and formal striped trousers.

George Wilkie
Hemingford Grey, Huntingdonshire
 

Second homes didn’t cause the housing crisis

SIR – As a resident of Torbay, which is one of the areas where councils will be allowed to double council tax on holiday properties (Letters, August 1), I believe that the whole matter is far more complex than it may appear.
 
Properties are unaffordable for many people, especially young families, because house prices have rocketed in recent years and salaries are below the national average. 

Holiday lets make up a very small percentage of the area’s housing stock. What we actually need are more affordable homes for people, but a recent House of Commons research briefing reveals that there is no definition of what constitutes “affordable”. In Torbay, the average house price is now £303,092 but wages are just over £28,000, whereas nationally the average price is £286,000 with salaries closer to £35,000. It is crucial that the Government makes a definition of what “affordable” is and that figures take local house prices into account.

I am a former holiday let business owner. Our property was never used by us, and quite rightly we paid significant capital gains tax when it was sold. I employed many local tradesmen, and my guests spent huge amounts of money in the area by eating out every day, visiting local attractions and shopping.

Politicians should stop looking for scapegoats and take responsibility for the housing crisis. The sale of 2.7 million council homes since the 1980s has proved utterly short-sighted. Successive governments have also refused to levy capital gains tax on primary residences despite massive house-price inflation. Laying the blame for unaffordable housing on holiday properties is wrong, and doubling council tax is a mere money-making exercise. 

Kate Graeme-Cook
Brixham, Devon
 

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