Worrying threat

IT is not often that events on Jersey are relevant to Scotland.

The threat by France’s maritime minister Annick Girardin that they might cut off electricity supplies to the channel Island, however, raises fears they could do the same to the UK. When wind speeds drop, as they did for three days at the start of the month, Scotland relies on importing electricity from england.

This situation will only get worse once the Hunterston nuclear power station is closed at the start of next year. If in future the rest of the UK were short of electricity owing to the French switching off the connector, they would prioritise domestic supply over export to an independent Scotland.

Both Westminster and Holyrood must change their energy policies to ensure we have a secure, reliable, plentiful and cheap supply of electricity, not the part-time electricity generated by wind turbines.

OTTO INGLIS, Crossgates, Fife. THe threat by France to cut power supplies to Jersey is a wake-up call that this country is far too dependent on gas and electricity from europe and Russia.

We surely have the technical knowhow to build generating plants to provide enough power to meet this country’s energy requirements, especially with the impending switch to electric cars.

In this volatile world, it would be simple for foreign countries to pull the plug on us. We need to be less reliant on others and provide for our own needs.

RICHARD A. JACOB, Southampton.

We cAn’T allow Jersey to be held to ransom. We must quickly build wind and solar power farms to make the channel Islands self-sufficient in power.

ROBERT COULDWELL, Bognor Regis, W. Sussex.

WeRe we as petty as the French, we might usefully refuse to allow eDF (electricite de France) to supply its many British customers.

JILL HOPKINSON, Grantham, Lincs.