Ebbing confidence

SIR – I have voted Conservative at every election since 1979 but am beginning to wonder why.

Any government that can turn down a proposal costing £2 billion for the Swansea tidal lagoon – which would provide electricity for thousands of homes at very little further cost for decades – but continues to champion a monstrous and much more expensive railway line whose only benefit is to cut the journey time from London to Birmingham by 20 minutes has got its priorities very wrong (“Tory anger as clean energy project shelved”, report, June 26).

SIR – Iceland burns no fossil fuel and generates its energy from wind and geothermal power. It became the first country to invest in such research and has perfected the technology. As a result, 92 per cent of houses have been connected and the residents enjoy free, unlimited hot water and heating.

We are blessed in these islands with immense tidal riches. However, we refuse to invest in it, preferring wind power as it’s cheaper. Self-sufficiency could have been within our grasp – but, alas, there has been a lack of vision yet again.

Dr Robert Hugh Jones

Cardiff