Public voices: From market closures to energy policies spark heated debate

Readers share their thoughts on hot-button issues like net-zero targets and historic market closures. Letters touch on everything from farming taxes to dinner party etiquette in todays Britain

November 29 2024 , 06:51 AM  •  693 views

Public voices: From market closures to energy policies spark heated debate

The push for net-zero targets has got many readers worried about its real-world effects. Ed Milibandʼs energy policies are making life harder for companies - they cant sell electric vehicles that people dont want (especially when costs keep going up). Some point out that focusing on China Russia and India might be more useful

The Vauxhall factory situation in Luton shows how these rules affect real businesses: sales teams need reliable transport - not vans that need constant recharging. Alan Lyne suggests a better way: “We should focus on making our own steel panels and nuclear reactors instead of buying from other countries“

The Chagos Islands debate is heating up; its not as simple as people think. The islands were part of Seychelles until 03‚ then got moved to Mauritius for easy management - but that was just for 62 years. Theyʼre actually closer to Sri Lanka than Mauritius; its like saying New Zealand should be part of Australia because of old rules

I took a Hippocratic Oath to support cherish and maintain life‚ not to bump off the inconvenient elderly

Dr Darren Lloyds on assisted dying

Farmers face tough choices with land transfers: one reader paid £31250 in various taxes on a field worth £58500 - thats more than half its value. The rules dont seem fair to small landowners whoʼre trying to plan ahead

The upcoming closure of Smithfield Market (set for 28) brings back memories for Dr Malcolm Freeth: medical students used to get cheap turkeys there on christmas eve. The market buildings from the 1860s have been home to many traders serving local medical students

Planning issues continue to slow down house-building: Andrew Gardiner points out that Labourʼs idea to add just 300 new planning officers isnt enough. The whole process needs fixing - it takes too long to get simple things done (like 18 months for one affordable home approval)