I REFER to my previous letter regarding the Severn Tidal Power debate, and first of all, would like to thank both Mr Venk Shenoi and Mr Andrew Gardiner for their most informative replies. If I gave the impression of 'shouting from the sidelines' like a barracker then I assure them that this was not the intention, I was asking what I thought were pertinent questions.

With the final decisions being made by this present government, I make no apology for being concerned for this country's future, and in particular, for the well-being of the area. I know of no Minister who understands his/ her brief and considerable capital sums have been wasted in engineering projects.

In comparison with China, whose entire Politburo is comprised of engineers, our government is obsessed with targets, in this instance from the morons of Brussels, and sound engineering practice is over-ridden by 'green' issues only.

Engineers have criticised minsters for lack of ambition when drawing up the shortlist of options for this tidal power project. They are particularly amazed by the exclusion of the largest scheme, which is the proposed barrage between Minehead and Aberthaw on the Welsh coast. This barrage would have offered considerably more by way of carbon savings. Also with regard to the proposal for the Shoots Barrage, there is no inclusion of a rail-link option. The potentially dangerous state of the Severn Tunnel has been a cause for concern for several years, and the original proposal for this scheme included a replacement rail crossing.

The government has also ignored other potential estuaries around the UK's coastlines, which, by generating tidal power at different times, would even out the supply of electricity, thus removing the necessity of back-up forms of electricity capacity, which the county would need.

I intend to take up Mr Shenoi's offer, as I am interested in developments, and am intrigued by the discussions taking place, bearing in mind the possible repercussions for this Forest of Dean area. – Cy Roberts, Coalway.