RETAIL park lights blazing away, our town's Christmas houses decked with lights both inside and outside, the nuclear power stations are coping with the demand but at what cost?

Not far from Bolton, nuclear waste is still being processed (from around the globe) I might add, and at Sellafield nuclear waste is still being buried underground. Great Britain is blessed with rivers, yet we do not harness this vast energy source. It seems to have rained forever recently, and the forecasters reckon the damp climatic change is here for the foreseeable future.

Where I live the rivers Croal and Irwell roar by,for most, if not all the year round. Hydro electric power: just imagine for example Darcy Lever village could easily have constant hot water and heating, the local famous terracotta church and listed building St Stephen's could in the long term avoid costly repairs if the church was heated all year round. Take note the Church of England, the valley area of Bolton where the Megaplex is could become a troubled area due to its location ie: rather dark at night and secluded, a generator here in the river could power flood lights.

Take note entrepreneur Richard Branson, just a few examples of what we could do for the Millennium, something certainly worthwhile, as stewards of the planet I feel it's our duty to the next generation.

Although I don't think the chairman of Norweb would be in favour of this money-saving proposal.

George Whitlow

MANUCAN@aol.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.