IT seems that Britain could experience another cold winter during the coming months with temperatures falling once again to very low levels. Millions of pounds are being spent on salt, anti-freeze and snow clearance vehicles in an attempt avoid the paralysis that we suffered last winter.

Local Authorities, the railways, the airports and the Highways Agency are all preparing for a harsh winter and 500 salt-spreading vehicles are on standby in 100 depots nationwide. Network Rail has spent £40m on heating and deicing units to stop the rails freezing up.

The La Nina effect, a build-up of unusually cold water in the Pacific near South America, is one of the natural climate variation factors which caused last winter’s big freeze. Another is already building up.

In the UK, our politicians, and many environmentalists, continue to believe that it is possible for the Earth’s climate variations to be controlled by building huge numbers of costly wind farms and installing solar panels. They are mistaken.

Last winter’s La Nina caused record winter snowfall, spring flooding and drought across the USA as well as other extreme weather problems throughout the world including colossal rain storms and flooding in Australia.

Trying to control all that is like trying to hold Niagara Falls back with a bucket.

Some climatologists are saying that the Earth could be on the way to another mini-Ice Age like the one which caused the River Thames to freeze over for several months hundreds of years ago.

Wind farms and solar panels will only achieve one thing. Even higher electricity bills for all of us.

Jim Allan, Hartlepool.