YOUR VIEWS: ‘A case of publish or be damned....’
Engineering expert John Carson says the Cairngorm funicular fix is ‘like putting lipstick on a pig’
It is very clear that Highlands and Islands Enterprise does not want to answer or rebut the opinions of a very professional and experienced civil engineer over the alarming deterioration of the Cairngorm funicular supporting structure.
If HIE is so sure that the current round of major repairs are reliable and sound, then they need to be challenged to publish all of their rigorous testing and safety check reports, before, or at the very least, concurrently with them re-opening the funicular.
It's a case of publish or be damned!
Gordon Bulloch
Grantown.
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‘We must not lose our Inverallan Church in planning row’
The rejection of the planning application for solar panels on Inverallan Church has prompted another poem.
On the front page of the Strathy,
I'm afraid we face bad news,
Solar panels on Inverallan Church,
By Highland planners are refused.
At the 'Square' end of Church Street,
Stands the National Park extension,
A modern building that is unmissable,
But perhaps that was their intention.
It's said the panels would become,
An incongruous, contemporary threat.
But not more so than that new extension,
Which can make some people sweat.
The solar panels would not be seen
By any person from the Square,
They would be visible from Grant Road,
But only if you know they're there.
If the panels do not face the sun,
They may fail to be effective,
The batteries may not get topped up,
And charging could be defective.
The Church is so important,
But alas, if it can't be used,
Because solar heating's not permitted,
The building could stand disused.
If the church becomes neglected,
Because it's no longer of any use,
It may become a tragic monument,
Facing vandalism and abuse.
As one of our most iconic buildings,
It desperately requires preserving,
Then it can be used by the community,
No place is more deserving.
There's many valued plans afoot,
For this so much needed space,
For concerts, meetings and performances,
And, of course, it's role as a holy place.
So let the locals save this building,
Making future generations proud,
Then folk will look back in pleasure,
To when the solar panels were allowed.
The Government wants Net Zero,
Reducing global warming fears,
Solar panels ought to be accepted,
Could the planners yet save our tears?
This listed building is so essential,
To the people of our Town,
So I beg you Highland Council,
Please do not let Grantown down.
Barbie Miller
Grantown.
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Selective figures on renewable energy outputs
Clark Cross (Letters, November 14) provided misleading data concerning the contribution of renewable energy towards reducing our carbon emissions whilst maintaining a reliable electricity supply.
He did this by choosing figures from seven recent days in which Britain experienced very little wind or sunshine, due to the large anticyclone covering these islands, when renewable energy generation was unusually low. Even under these conditions no power cuts were reported.
However, the important metric when considering the impact of renewable energy on reducing carbon emissions is the ‘carbon intensity of electricity generation’ measured in kilogrammes of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour, (kgCO2/MWh), - and that should be measured over several decades to reveal the trend and not just seven days.
That data is as follows:
Carbon intensity 1970 to 1975 = c.750 kgCO2/MWh
Carbon intensity 2010 to 2015 = c.470 kgCO2/MWh
Carbon intensity 2020 to present = c.175 kgCO2/MWh
The Committee on Climate Change has a target for carbon intensity of 50 to 100 kgCO2/MWh, so we have made considerable progress towards that, with Britain's last coal fired power station closing at the end of September this year -and the lights are still on.
Roy Turnbull
Torniscar
Nethy Bridge.
* * *
Minister fully behind PV panels on church’s roof after planning knock-out
A couple of points to add to the excellent Strathy coverage of the continued refusal of Highland Council planners to consent to the solar panels for which Inverallan Church has requested permission.
The council says they would be 'prominent'.
In truth they would be totally invisible from the main approach from Church Avenue.
True, they could be seen from Grant Road, where, in the absence of a pavement, any pedestrian is more likely to be watching for traffic.
Even this view can hardly be said to be offensive, and is in places obscured by trees which are in leaf throughout most of the tourist season.
One has to wonder whether those who made this decision have actually visited the site and had a proper look at it.
In a somewhat facetious comment, the planners note that 'We have to remember that this is Scotland not Spain, (and) direct sunlight is very often not going to be an option'. Exactly!
That is precisely why the panels require to be sited to gain maximum sun, as in the application.
I see Badenoch and Strathspey Highland councillor John Bruce in the Strathy photograph, and wonder that our councillors have not over-ruled the planning department, especially in view of the widespread support which you report in the Strathy.
Incidentally, the planning office’s refusal letter is dated 24th October, fully six months after the application.
Having spent my life as a minister, I thought the Church was slow to act!
(Rev) Jim MacEwan
Nethy Bridge.
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Where are the future classic TV comedies?
I was recently looking at TV listings and it dawned on me that great comedies like Blackadder and Porridge are no longer being produced or offered.
This inspired me to look into scientific research into the benefits of laughter.
A 2023 paper lead-authored by Caroline Kramer concludes that ‘Spontaneous laughter is associated with greater reduction in cortisol levels as compared with usual activities’.
Where does cortisol come into it? A 2020 study led by Carol Jones states ‘cortisol has been indicated as a factor in numerous chronic conditions’ including weight gain, skin changes, mood swings, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus.
Bring comedy back.
Geoff Moore
Alness.
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The duty of politicians is ‘to serve the many’
In recent years, populism has often been incorrectly cast in a negative light but it’s time we recognise its crucial role in restoring power to the people and defending the values of hard-working citizens.
At its core, populism champions the voices of ordinary people, particularly the working class, who have long been overlooked by elite decision-makers.
It reminds political leaders that their duty is to serve the many, not the privileged few.
The appeal of populism lies in its commitment to local communities and to the protection of our livelihoods.
Rooted in common-sense values, populism calls for transparency, fairness, and accountability.
It supports preserving our industries - keeping manufacturing, farming, and fishing jobs in the UK - and ensuring that Scottish and British jobs are prioritised.
Populism also recognises the need for sensible immigration controls and secure borders to safeguard resources and maintain fairness.
Across the UK, populist movements have rightly advocated for free speech, better wages, affordable living costs, and accessible healthcare—concerns central to the working class.
True populism unites citizens under a shared vision.
It is a government that serves and respects the people.
Populism is a force for democracy—a voice for those who built and sustain our society.
Councillor Alastair Redman
Isle of Islay.
