Stabbed in the back, shot in the foot – pick your own metaphor
It would appear that I am not the only one of a ‘cynical’ mind when it comes to the question of Aquind (Broadmarsh, letter by Liz Tullet, December 5).
I wrote at the beginning of the year to the effect that there is something not quite right with this company and its plan, and I have yet to be convinced otherwise. Reassurances from the friendly face of the company man in Newcastle UK still don’t change the fact this is yet another foreignowned outfit (Aquind Energy s.a.r.l.) based in low-tax Luxembourg and even lower tax-lax havens offshore.
The plan to bring cheap ‘green’ energy from France is a bit of a trick, it will come from nuclear power stations. The French won’t waste the eco-friendly stuff on us, just imagine the publicity blowback over there. But here’s the rub. A report suggests France may face power cuts this winter,if that were to be the case in the future, who is likely to get switched off first?
This project, this deal, is just another big dirty mess which will go on for years, another HS2, loads of money for the big boys, and in truth no benefit for Joe Soap. There is a saying which goes: ‘Privatise the profit then socialise the debt’. In this case we understand where the profit goes, the debt will be borne by locals with all the dirt, disruption and upheaval. Eventually, maybe, £5 a week off your bill. I don’t think so.
This country shot itself in the foot or rather it was shot in the back. They listened, then bowed to the pressure without really thinking it though. We closed our coal-fired power stations, we turned our utilities over to foreign private enterprises and governments, and still we even contemplate this – absolute madness.
Brian Nevill King Street, Gosport