I’M not sure where Councillor Martin Jones (HAS, April 30) gets his information from, but his letter in support of the Newton Aycliffe wind farm is full of inaccuracies.

Firstly, wind power is a very unreliable source of power that is wholly dependent on the weather. This does not, constitute a ‘security of energy supply’. At all times a reliable source of power has to be available as a back up, which means that we will still be dependent on “foreign” energy.

Secondly, wind turbines are an expensive means of power production that would not operate without state funding, despite oil costs rising.

Thirdly, if Councillor Jones believes that our nuclear power stations are based in as unstable environment as the Japanese plants his judgment is seriously questionable.

Finally, scientific evidence, from such people as the ‘green’ ecologist John Etherington and consultant UK National Grid control engineer Derek Birkett, casts doubt on the efficacy of wind power, with such nightmare scenarios as a total blow out of the power infrastructure caused by the stop-go nature of wind power when the net is at full demand.

I for one would rather see reliable power from plentiful local sources such as coal.

Dave Brothers, UKIP County Durham.

THE comment by the Lib Dem councillor Martin Jones about wind generated power merely served to reinforce my opinion that elected representatives should be banned from speaking unless technically qualified.

Security of supply and wind power are mutually exclusive, as is base load and wind power.

The most recent revelation after a freedom of information request that a wind power provider was paid £900,000 to stop the generators as they were surplus to requirements only proves the point.

Dennis Clark, Billingham.