Letters: Only diehards are opposed to new nuclear power stations

However, the real flaw in the district heat pump idea is what powers it? It can't be gas or wood, and therefore it's electricity and so Mr McAlpine misses this in his electricity conundrum.

We know for a fact that on the cold, dark nights we have just now, there's negligible amounts of electricity generated from wind and zero from solar, but a corresponding demand increase.

And so the real problem we have is an electricity problem: weaning ourselves off gas generation and providing enough for the new electricity-hungry heat pumps, district heating and electric radiators we will need. The UK Government has recognised this and commissioned Hinkley C, and Sizewell C, both of which will complement renewable sources and give us sustainable and sustained, 100% carbon-free electricity generation.

Apart from the diehards, who shout the loudest, I find few in Scotland fundamentally opposed to new nuclear, mainly because they know that Scots have run nuclear power stations safely for decades and are more than capable of doing so in the future. It's time this SNP/Green Government gave up its baseless anti-nuclear ideology and embraced new nuclear, ensuring Scotland has copious amounts of zero carbon energy whatever the weather. I believe this is what most people in Scotland would choose.

Jamie Black, Largs

Scotland’s doing its bit on heat pumps

ROBIN McAlpine states that Scotland does not manufacture air source heat pumps ("District heating, not heat pumps, must be the answer", The Herald, December 6). He is incorrect. At Livingston, West Lothian a well-known multinational company is manufacturing air source heat pumps in volume for both the UK and European markets, providing employment to a large number of people of all age groups from across the central belt.

Alan Hambley, High Blantyre

The only way out of this is talk

The Ukraine war has faded from the headlines, to be supplanted by Israel’s murderous assault on Gaza. The US, EU and UK’s unconditional support for an Israeli regime that has murdered 17,000 Palestinians, displaced one million and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes is morally and legally beyond the pale. Anyone dissenting from the IDF’s brutal ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is branded anti-Semitic, clearly absurd since many Jews are appalled at what Israel is committing in their name.

The US, in particular, is an accomplice to the massacre. It is sending munitions and bombs for Israel to drop on tens of thousands of women and children. Israel’s President Herzog has said there are no innocent civilians in Gaza, a breath-taking statement. Israel is following the Dahiya doctrine, treating all civilians as military targets. This means women and children are fair game.

The rest of the world is watching this “ethnic cleansing” in real time. The New York Times admits that Israel has killed more women and children in the first eight days of the war than have been killed in Ukraine in 18 months. Which nation is the real monster?

The West has abandoned any attempts at diplomacy in Gaza just as it has in Ukraine, claiming there is no alternative to dropping bombs. This is not only patently false but geopolitical suicide, especially for Israel. The Arab world has said time and again that it is interested in Israeli security which can only be achieved via a political settlement. There have been five decades of UN security council resolutions saying the solution is a state of Palestine and a state of Israel, all ignored by the US.

There is a peaceful way out of this nightmare but it can only happen if the West stops bombing and starts talking.

Leah Gunn Barrett, Edinburgh

A real opportunity for Scotland

It was interesting to read Brian Donnelly's business article on the possible sale of Edinburgh Airport (The Herald, December 9).

Over the many years of foreign ownership, there have been numerous articles on the financial successes that have been achieved, and the benefits that international air travel have brought to Scotland. These facts cannot be denied; however, the investors did not do what they did, for purely philanthropic reasons, they saw it as an opportunity to make outstanding profits, for their financial investors if we are to believe that said profits have risen to 700%.

It might appear to be perverse to suggest that this possible sale might be an opportunity for Scotland (its Government) to purchase said asset with the appropriate quality management.

There will be many who will suggest that this nation has not got the expertise or acumen to achieve such a situation, but if we take the CalMac fiasco as the only measure, then it would be wrong. Equally there are many that, believe curbing aviation or reducing the use of oil will be a major way in achieving climate change,; possibly so, but we will always need both for the betterment of our lives.

In the past, there have been many questions asked regarding the ownership of Scotland and its assets. Perhaps this would be an opportunity to show a genuine interest in doing something to prove that this interest is just not talk.

Mike Dooley, Ayr

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Whisky substitute is hard to swallow

Whilst engaging in some Christmas cheer in a well-established hostelry in Ashton Lane, I ordered a whisky only to be served Buffalo Bourbon. When I remonstrated with the young lady behind the bar, she cheekily replied it was the same thing!

Is nothing sacrosanct anymore?

Catherine Griffin, Glasgow