I WRITE in partial support and partial condemnation of Brian Derbyshire's letter (Green energy will combat global warming), printed in September 27.

Firstly, Mr Derbyshire is right to challenge Peter Johnston and the wind farm protesters' opinions on the use of wind farms.

Are these people so naive to forget that not 200 years ago this country was covered in hundreds of windmills, harnessing the natural free energy available to enable man to earn a crust?

Secondly, I would like to reiterate that the facts that the CEGB, the National Grid, and the regional boards were sold off by the Conservative Party, like many industries within the Conservative privatisation programme. They were privatised for two main reasons: to raise money to support government projects, and to increase competition to reduce cost to the voters. Very few people were complaining then.

No one complains when they have a few extra bob in their pocket, but some 20 years later, after more than 10 years of a Labour government, the electorate are rightly complaining that these private companies have failed to re-invest.

But ask yourselves the question: What have the present governing party done to address this issue?

Wind farms are one option which we must seriously consider. At the end of the day we all want to see the end of the Nuclear power station.

Mike Mitchell

Tonge Head Avenue

Bolton