AS a time-served MOG (miserable old git), articles I read in The Herald sometimes induce hypertension and outbursts of profanity, none more so than those about “the Mack”. Apparently our Culture Secretary believes the twice-incinerated building is important to the City of Glasgow and Scotland as a whole ("Ministers reject calls for public inquiry into Mack fires", The Herald, June 11). What a load of Mackintosh without the Mackin.

I guarantee you that if you gave everyone in Scotland a map of the country and asked them to stick a pin in it where “the Mack” could be found hardly any would be able to do so. When informed as to what “the Mack” is, was or will cost to rebuild many would suggest you stick the pin and "the Mack" elsewhere.

The whole protracted messed-up episode highlights the division between “us and them” in Scotland and the UK. While the majority of us, those who keep the wheels of society turning and actually create the wealth, are suffering the effects of decades of deliberate austerity with more apparently on the way, when poverty is increasing, life expectancy dropping, kids go hungry and OAPs die because they can’t heat their homes, those at the top of the heap, who don’t suffer any of these problems, worry about how they will spend some of our taxes on a building that will do nothing to improve the quality of life of those who desperately need help.

Aux armes mes enfants.

David J Crawford, Glasgow.

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Why nuclear must be in the mix

IT is necessary that I respond to Iain McIntyre’s criticism (Letters, June 8) of my letter (June 1) concerning the necessity to include nuclear in our energy mix. He falls into the information trap set by renewable industry spin, gullible politicians, and a supine media which fails to challenge received wisdom.

While it is true that wind energy, at point of connection to the grid, is cheaper than nuclear for favourable onshore and shallow-water offshore wind farms, the intermittency of the energy, defined as capacity factor, means that at best the energy is only available for approximately 30% (onshore) and 60% (offshore), the life span is at best 25years, the source of the energy is remote from the demand, non-synchronous and requires expensive transmission infrastructure to send the energy to where it is required. This transmission results in power losses, complex voltage stability management of reactive power and insertion of inertia in the form of large synchronous machines. Moreover, the times when wind energy is lacking, the gap has to be filled by gas generation, a situation that cannot prevail beyond 2050 if the net zero target is met. The only practical storage solution, as I previously stated, is pump storage, since batteries, while useful for grid stability, would need to be of a size which is impracticable. The amount of energy that would be needed to compensate for wind’s fickle performance is truly immense. Figures of hundreds of billions of pounds and vast landscape destruction are no exaggeration. This is why "the whole system cost" of wind energy is several times that of nuclear.

In contrast nuclear offers reliable power for 60 years at 90% availability, has inherent inertia, modest real estate requirements and can be located close to demand. Future developments promise inherent stability and a reduced volume of hazardous waste.

Mr McIntyre refers to the levelised cost of onshore wind as £38 per MWh. This is as misleading as “how long is a piece of string”. What is telling is the actual strike price negotiated for each site. A random sampling will reveal many onshore sites having negotiated strike prices well over £100/MWh and offshore in excess of £150/MWh at current value. (Hinkley Point C current price, £124.65. Future nuclear is predicted to be about half the cost of Hinkley).

George Morton (Letters, June 8) says that I failed to consider tidal. I am well aware of its potential, but space limited me covering all the issues. Tidal has advantages in that it is entirely predictable and the economics of storage to cover slack tides are practical. Unfortunately, it is hugely expensive. For example, the MayGen Pentland Firth tidal stream project has negotiated a strike price of £245.29/MWh.

Whatever we do, we cannot afford an energy policy dominated by wind. We need a mix of technologies and recognition that whatever we do, energy will never be as cheap as energy-dense carbon.

Our future energy strategy must be determined by a government-sponsored, professional and independent authority and not by the present free market and ill-advised politicians.

Norman McNab, Killearn.

French roads put ours to shame

MY son and I have just returned from Normandy after attending the 80th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings. The French really showed how much they appreciated the tremendous sacrifice of British, American, Canadian and Commonwealth nations in the fight against Nazi tyranny. Flags and bunting adorned houses, gardens and public buildings everywhere. On returning I read Josh Carmichael’s article regarding the state of our roads ("Public slates state of our roads", The Herald, June 8).

We had driven through France and Belgium to and from Normandy and hardly saw a pothole nor were we held up by roadworks once. Even the road surface noise was much quieter. On arrival in the UK we were held up for ages at the Blackwall Tunnel then by several speed restrictions because of roadworks and hold-ups on the M1 and M6.

The contrast was stark.

Some years ago I read of a machine which had been developed to repair potholes quickly and efficiently. So far I’ve never seen one in use.

Our roads are a disgrace and no one seems to care.

JB Barbour, Glasgow.

JK RowlingJK Rowling (Image: PA)

Admirable honesty

DUNCAN Sooman talks about the Euros and the psyche of many Scotland fans with regard to our attitude towards the England team. If one were to compare the Euros with the Champions League, and using Celtic and Rangers as an example, if either team gets eliminated from that competition, none of their fans would support the other side, even if they happened to be the “best team”. Has Mr Sooman never read about our “auld enemy” or heard the expression “ABE" (Anyone but England)? And by the way, I actually admire Stephen Flynn’s honesty.

Brian Watt, Edinburgh.

A win for JK

KEVIN McKenna's excellent article ("How hysteria engulfed Scotland", The Herald, June 11) has one error. JK Rowling has not "sacrificed her reputation" by speaking out on gender self-ID zealotry. She has enhanced her reputation.

John Birkett, St Andrews.