Time for reinvention so UK can be great

WHATEVER we think of electricpowered cars, and I am very enthusiastic, I do realise there will be teething problems. Because of the pollution problem the government is most anxious that we make the conversion sooner rather than later.

We will still need service stations along the route, but on a smaller scale, and instead they will have to fit rapid charging points. This will not replace the revenue generated from the sale of fuel to cars, vans and lorries. It will be much cheaper motoring, but don’t worry, the Chancellor will soon take care of that. Motorists will still break down on the side of the road, but instead of running out of fuel it will be a flat battery. It will be cleaner motoring, and not so noisy.

When I was a child most of our homes were heated by coal, and the electricity generated came from coal and our trains and ships ran on coal. We were concerned that with so much coal being used around the world that sooner or later we would run out of coal.

However, we later saw the horse being replaced by the car and tractor, with much of our electricity being generated from oil and many householders were moving over to heat their homes with oil. The conversation then moved to our fear that we would run out of oil.

That is very true, and it is important that we immediately start looking for alternative sources of energy that do not deplete our reserves as we were doing with coal and oil.

Windmills are successful and not too expensive to install. It is estimated that we would have to erect so many windmills to supply our need it would make it impractical, and would have an awful effect on the environment, and not forgetting public attitude.

This must be looked at long term and the answer is either nuclear or barrage. I would suggest both, although my preference is barrage. An ideal site would be between Fishguard and Ireland, with a road over the barrage and partly paid for by tolls, Ireland and EU. This I accept would be expensive, but would have a life expectancy in excess of one hundred years, and not only produce electricity from the strong current, but join Ireland with Wales by road.

We are very good at discovering or inventing things, but are slow in implementing them to our daily advantage. In the past every 20 years or so we used to go to war, and in spite of the cruelty and heartache it did speed up progress and the implementation of new inventions and discoveries.

In the past we were known as Great Britain and the mother of the world, but like all mothers we are now too ready to sit back and let others get on with the job. It is time we reinvented ourselves with the spirit of adventure, enthusiasm and entrepreneurs and put GT back in Britain.