Readers' letters

WELL done Simon Avery (We must save the island from being ruined, Letters, March 2). How right he is. The roundabout he talks about is all geared up for the sailing centre, which everything else seems to be geared to. I don't remember anyone on Portland being consulted about whether we wanted the sailing centre. It seems to have just appeared. They even had some of the old oil tanks dismantled because they were deemed unsightly. No one ever complained before on entering Portland. Now they don't want the wind turbines for fear of ruining their sailing. Even our own councillors on the island are trying to block the wind turbines because it's going to 'spoil the beauty of the place'. What beauty for goodness sake? It's way out in the water. What planet are these people on? Do our councillors ever think of a time when our mass produced energy might run out and might need turbines? Which will be most needed then - wind turbines or a sailing centre? It is said that the sailing centre will be good for the economy. Whose economy? We elect councillors so that they can defend us, but they appear too weak to go against the people who run the sailing centre or the council over the other side of water, who seem hell bent on bending backwards for them. There is nothing certain about the idea of London hosting the Olympics, and our waters are not very likely to be needed. Looking at our country, we are a million light years behind the rest of the bidding countries and to be quite frank, we haven't got the facilities in England to cope with any Olympics, even by 2012. I know there are hundreds of Portlanders in agreement with what I have written, but too shy to speak up. BRIAN ELLIS Courtlands Portland

DON'T WE WANT TO KEEP GOOD JOBS ROUND HERE?

A RECENT Echo report headed 'Research Jobs Facing Switch' told how the Qinetiq under-water research facility at Bincleaves, Weymouth, seems likely to relocate to Winfrith. A number of questions arise. Would Qinetiq have considered decamping from Bincleaves if it had minimal re-development value? A smaller Qinetiq operation could have been housed at Bincleaves avoiding the rent currently being paid at Winfrith. Thus, did the borough council signal the end of the operation by holding out the possibility of residential development at Bincleaves in the first draft of its Local Plan? What is the point of building more houses locally if we do not have jobs - unless we are to be primarily a retirement town? What does this mean for social development, if more of our university graduates have to move away to find jobs? How long will Qinetiq stay put at Winfrith when they have rent- free accommodation available at Malvern, Portsmouth and Farnborough? Jim Knight claims he has been assured that there will be no job losses. Perhaps technically correct, if you exclude people taking up offers of early retirement. But the total number of jobs will be fewer. Fewer jobs locally means less buying power... and so on. Are we trying to attract well- paid jobs into our area, or do councillors and council officers believe that seasonal and low-paid tourism and low-paid caring jobs should be the pinnacle of our aspirations? Where are the plans for top grade business parks, etc? Where are the policies to protect employment land? TOM PACKER Glebelands West Stafford Dorchester

SELLING THE IDEA OF A SUPERMARKET

I WRITE in response to the Echo article of March 6, which reported that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council was not likely to make provision in its next Local Plan for a new supermarket on Portland. As a Portlander born and bred, I fully understand the need for a supermarket on the island. At our caring, sharing Co-op the prices, compared to Asda, are nothing short of outlandish. In some instances the difference in price on exactly the same products is 70 per cent to 100 per cent. It is no wonder people leave the island in their hundreds to shop at Asda. Borough councillors and council officers should try doing their shopping at Portland prices, rather than just sit in their offices and pontificate. Once again, it seems, Portlanders' needs are not as vital as those of Weymouthians. There are more than enough residents on Portland to justify a supermarket. So come on borough council, stop the monopoly and give Portlanders some choice. MIKE SMITH Carlton Road North Weymouth

SAD ABOUT THREAT TO NATURAL NATURE RESERVE

IT IS great news that Radipole Wood could receive special protection as a nature reserve. How sad to see what has been taking place on the other side of town at another natural nature reserve known as Little Francis and Markham, where it seems developers are intent on building over it. The site also meets all the criteria needed to keep it protected and I very much hope that everything possible is done to do just that. J MORRIS Wyke Regis Weymouth

TV CHANNEL INFORMATION

RE: SATURDAY'S letter in the Echo from Barbara and Tony Davis ('We found a way around the free to view issue'): I have just phoned the Sky TV number given, and Sky have categorically told me that ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 cannot be received at all. Apparently, they are in talks with the Government as I write. CHARLES BAKER Southwell Portland