I WAS pleased to have the further opportunity to reply to Brian Derbyshire's letter in response to mine on wind farms.

I must agree with Mr Derbyshire that clean energy from renewable sources is the way forward. He need not worry about the disadvantages of conventional power stations. As fossil fuels are exhausted, we will have to turn to renewable energy sources and, dare I say it, nuclear power, in order to survive, irrespective of our views on global warming.

However, we must take the long view. Wave, wind and tidal energy technology is advancing rapidly and it may not be long before we are able to effectively harness the elements without the need for land-based wind farms with their disruption of our fragile upland moorland.

Mr Derbyshire refers to Bolton street lights being powered by Welsh wind farms, and thereby extols their virtues. As a keen hillwalker, I remember the grandeur of the mid-Wales hills prior to the advent of wind farms. Suffice to say that there is little pleasure in walking them these days.

In view of Mr Derbyshire's favourable comments on my suggestions on replanting the moors with deciduous trees to absorb carbon dioxide, could he assist me in doing some research to determine how many trees would be needed to absorb the same amount as is saved by a single 300ft wind turbine - not too many, I think!

Dr I G V James

Chapeltown Road

Bromley Cross