Just Stop Oil won’t help the environment by alienating the public

sir – However laudable the long-term cause of the Just Stop Oil demonstrators may be, their methods are serving only to alienate potential supporters, who are being denied their right to go about their lawful business.

Even if Britain were to cease to produce emissions, the global effect would be negligible. Shouldn’t the protesters be targeting China, India or America? Their current actions are little more than gesture politics.

Colin Scott

Liskeard, Cornwall

sir – When police close the M25 for safety reasons because a protester has clambered on to a gantry, just whose safety is taking priority?

Is it the safety of the protester or the safety of – for example – a person trying to get to hospital?

I was held up for 30 minutes while the police removed a protester from the Dartford Crossing. Behind me was an ambulance trying to get through. Tony Cross

Sevenoaks, Kent sir – One wonders what the members of Just Stop Oil propose as a substitute for their hated energy source, and how long they think we and they can currently survive without it.

Michael Bacon

Bordon, Hampshire

sir – I think David Cockerham (“Why is Britain buying American gas instead of using its own resources?”, Letters, November 9) is missing the point.

Our purchase of American gas is a temporary stop-gap in advance of bringing in more wind generation – which can be delivered quicker and at much lower cost than fracking. It also has a lower environmental impact and is less politically sensitive.

Why we didn’t start fracking years ago is a separate question. We have to live, and make decisions, in the here and now.

Michael Gaine

Saffron Walden, Essex

sir – Sadly the numbers don’t add up for tidal power (Letters, November 7).

It can make a significant contribution to our energy requirements but will never amount to more than a minority share. The big non-fossil energy hitters are offshore wind and nuclear power. David Dunbar

Broadway, Worcestershire

sir – More than 10 years ago we invested in 16 solar panels, even though our roof layout faced east and west rather than the ideal north and south. Since then the feed-in tariff has been £500 per year, even with the measly payback of less than 24p per unit.

If it were mandatory for all newbuild houses – as well as offices and factories – to be fitted with panels, the power generated would be considerable.

Our panels were made in China, as was common at the time, but we now have several manufacturers in this country, so the carbon footprint would be reduced – and British industry given a boost.

Robin Voysey