SUSAN Chapman’s letter Global warming “playing havoc” was incredible considering renewable energy remains questionable and has as many critics as supporters.

China has considered all the arguments and refused because renewable energy alone could never give the cheap energy necessary if they are to maintain their competitive edge in the world markets. The ten new third generation nuclear power stations they are building will guarantee cheap energy for their factories.

In contrast we in Britain, with 30 per cent of the population living in fuel poverty, can look forward to inflation busting increases; I wonder at what percentage point will the government step in and do something constructively?

Nuclear power is the most promising source of clean and abundant energy. There has been for some time a tremendous advance in safety designs. I suspect many of the nuclear plants in Japan’s dated nuclear programme will eventually hasten that transition to modern technology using thorium instead of uranium. It appears that politicians from all persuasions have little appreciation for the demand for cheap energy or for thoriums ability to eliminate the dangers inherent in uranium use.

But with the announcement of two energy suppliers having pulled out of building two new nuclear power stations for Britain, we have only to add the online decommissioning of older nuclear power stations to realise there will be a tremendous shortage of electricity. It takes ten years to build a nuclear power plant, the prospect of having to read my Daily Echo under illuminated road signs fills me with dread.

MIKE FRY Moorland Crescent, Upton