26/08/03

The French had lots of nuclear-produced energy to spare and the cross-Channel electricity link was equivalent to building two new British power stations.

This undermined Arthur Scargill's skullduggery.

However, during the recent hot weather it seems that the cooling water for the French nuclear power stations was over-heating. Thus Britain had to supply electricity to France.

Our railways suffered because the old practice of leaving gaps in the rails every score of yards or so to allow for heat expansion, had been discontinued in order to use the long lengths of continuous rail to serve automatic traffic signals to regulate the trains.

But a schoolboy could have told the authorities about iron expansion at high temperatures. - J Potter, Newbottle.

AS a pensioner, I well remember the long, hot summers of the late 1930s and 1940s, followed by the harsh, bitter cold of the 1947-8 winter because I was a soldier from Catterick digging trains out of six to seven foot snowdrifts over Bowes Moor.

The cry was it was the onset of a new Ice Age.

Then, in 1963 as a lorry driver, stranded in South Wales for a week or more plus long delays, struggling against the conditions due to severe snow and ice, the cry was reiterated.

Come the 1976 heatwave followed by the dreary damp summers of the 1980s and 1990s, culminating in this year's exceptional heat wave, the cry now is global warming.

For all the scientific expertise, the pontificating, the biased thinking of the so-called environmental lobby, could it not be simply explained.

The Earth is a ball spinning on its axis, travelling around the Sun and, as such, the slightest occasional wobble altering the trajectory or position in relation to the Sun could be the defining factor in the equation. Extra hot or extra cold, or maybe just that the weather comes in unpredictable cycles. - C Matthews, Newton Aycliffe.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

I COULD not agree more with Mr Reynolds of Wheatley Hill (HAS, Aug 19) explaining the ludicrous legal system we enjoy that allows a criminal leave to sue the authorities and net £248,000.

Such figures are an absolute disgrace because the majority of honest, hard-working citizens of this country will never see such amounts, even after a lifetime's occupation.

There is something abhorrent in the whole situation that allows convicted criminals access to free legal representation. This situation need to be halted immediately.

I wonder if the many victims of crime will now be suitably compensated from this criminal's quarter of a million windfall from the taxpayer. Don't hold your breath. These are only the victims after all. - Robert Bridgett, Shildon.

POLICE

I WAS angered at the comments made by A McKimm (HAS, Aug 21) re the speeding police officers.

There was a comment on how the officers have well-paid jobs and can afford the fines. These officers have no doubt worked hard to achieve their positions and earned their "well-paid job". This comment infers that less well-paid people should be allowed to get away with breaking the law and those who work for a living should be punished. Surely this can't be fair?

The letter then goes on to ask: "How many more convictions have been swept under the carpet without the public getting to know?"

Like any other organisation, a complaints and discipline system is in place and if officers commit offences they are dealt with perhaps more severely than if a member of the public were to commit the same offence.

The letter was initiated by the fact that two officers "got off on a technicality" at court recently. I am sure if these men had an everyday job not in the police they would have been applauded and seen as heroes by the general public - not heavily criticised.

As for speed cameras alienating the police, they are there to help uphold the law of the land. Is anyone suggesting that people should be allowed to get away with breaking the law?

I commend the police on the hard work they do, even with the constraints placed upon them. Keep up the good work. - AJ Stevens, Darlington.