ARE people in Cornwall fully aware of the impending ruination of the view of Roughtor and Brown Willy, the two highest peaks on Bodmin Moor?

We believe many in the Westcountry are unaware of the impact the proposed Davidstow wind farm will have on the skyline. The blades of the turbines will be almost level with the peak of Roughtor, and they may well be fitted with strobe lights.

If this development, on the boundary of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is allowed to proceed it could be used as a disturbing precedent and no beauty spot in the country will be safe. It is significant that eminent bodies including the National Trust and Natural England objected to the planning application on environmental and visual grounds.

Permission for this wind farm has been granted subject to conditions relating to air traffic control and bird welfare concerns. Meanwhile the Government Office South West has called a temporary halt to the scheme to consider "calling it in". This would lead to a public inquiry at which the conflict between the need for sustainable energy and protection of major beauty spots can be properly debated.

If you wish to protect Bodmin Moor and the integrity of this special environment, whatever your stance on the viability of wind power, I urge you to write, giving your views, to: Tara Dickenson, Planning No. 2008/ 01432, Planning & Housing Delivery Team, Mast House, Shepherds Wharf, 24 Sutton Road, Plymouth PL14 0HJ.

I write, as chairman, on behalf of the committee of the Bodmin Moor and Camel Valley Protection Society, a registered charity working hard to protect Roughtor and the Moor. We have taken advice from counsel and understand that even if the application is not called in there may well be a legal remedy.

We are preparing to pursue this. We owe it to future generations to protect the integrity of this unique area.

William Butchart

Camel Valley and Bodmin Moor Protection Society

Cooling climate

I WOULD like to predict the outcome of the jolly for world leaders and 15,000 hangers-on now on in Copenhagen, and I wonder what their carbon footprint must look like?

It is a foregone conclusion that the likes of Obama, Brown and other leaders desperate for political endorsement and gain will agree to all sorts of restrictions and extreme levels of taxation to the detriment of the population of the so-called rich nations. Although rarely reported, it has been proved that there is no global warming – in fact we are effectively in a cooling situation, which the hacked manipulated data from scientists at the University of East Anglia tried to hide. So I predict that a suitable time after the enforcement of unpopular measures, data showing temperatures cooling will be published and Brown and his mates will announce that they have "saved the world".

Mike Jackman

Looe

Unfit for service

THE antics of Jeremy Clarkson may have done more to encourage so-called joy riding and seriously poor or very bad examples of driving and road rage than any other single factor. But after the way the BBC "dealt with" the situation concerning Jonathan Ross can we seriously expect the governing body to take any action?

The man should be asked to be more responsible for his programme – at the very least having it vetted and cleared by responsible people before transmission (and before anyone jumps, this has nothing to do with censorship).

Alternatively, withdraw Clarkson's programme as "unfit for service".

Mike Bennett

Barnstaple

Better traffic flow

IT was with a sinking heart that I read yet another letter from a climate sceptic that got the facts wrong. Justin Harmer (letter, December 4) says that "theoretically" (what theory?) decreasing maximum speed from 70 to 55mph would cause congestion.

In fact, because of the reduced safe distance needed between vehicles at the lower speed the traffic flow past a fixed point will be greater at 55 than 70. Theoretically, the greatest traffic volume through a fixed point is obtained at 28mph.

As most car journeys are short, few journeys would be affected by a reduction in the maximum speed limit anyway.

P Jesson

Teignmouth

Ray of sunshine

IF O W Rogers (letter, December 8) found your November 26 edition full of woe, I advise him against reading the Daily Mail. Here, an uncompromisingly gloomy picture of Britain and its prospects is painted.

On the few occasions I read the Mail I use the WMN as an antidote. I find it offers a more balanced viewpoint and acts as a welcome ray of sunshine cutting through Mail-induced gloom.

Jim Bartlett

Barnstaple