Nuclear plants

David McMillan claims that no nuclear plant has been built in the UK for a long time because "constructing a wind farm is a much less capital-intensive activity than building a nuclear plant" (Letters, 9 March).

In fact, the hiatus had nothing to do with the capital cost (nuclear plants are cheaper to operate than any other form of thermal generation); it was due to hysterical fear of nuclear power after the Chernobyl accident and pressure from Greens. The government set its face against nuclear power and discouraged development. Since then, it has seen sense and changed its mind, as a result of which several companies now plan to build nuclear plants.

STEUART CAMPBELL

Dovecot Loan

Edinburgh