Letters: Labour's hot air

I have to say I have been perplexed by Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray's pitch to the renewables industry that, under the SNP, the energy sector has been held back (your report, 23 February).

Since the SNP government came to office in May 2007, there have been 47 energy applications passed, in total of which 39 have been renewable.

Compared with the previous four years (2003-7) when Gray's party was in control, there were only 19 projects - less than half of what the SNP has achieved. In fact, the SNP exceeded Labour's four years of determinations within 18 months of coming to office.

Since we have Labour claiming that its 10,000 job placements are more than the SNP's 50,000 and now Gray implying that 47 SNP energy applications are fewer than Labour's 19, then is it a case that Labour cannot count or that they have such a low opinion of the electorate's intelligence that they think voters will believe any old negative nonsense Labour produce?

Rob Gibson MSP

Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee

Holyrood

Edinburgh

It was with surprise and dismay that I saw on the Midlothian Council planning website an application for the erection of two 70 metre-high wind turbines on the south side of the Pentland Hills, one at Walstone and the other at Silverburn.

Regardless of one's views on renewable energy in general, and onshore wind in particular, it is difficult to see how such a project would contribute significantly to the energy needs of the nation.

Rather, this would appear to be a poorly-disguised means of lining the pockets of the landowner and the power company involved.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people, both locals and visitors from afar, come to enjoy the rural beauty of the Pentland Park for what it is: a glorious, unspoiled natural treasure.

To allow the construction of wind turbines in such close proximity to the area would be an act of pure vandalism and should be opposed by everyone who holds this place dear.

RTA Chalmers

Braidwood Bridge

Midlothian