Plans by the Government for producing more power by natural means are welcome in a world becoming worried about global warming.

But Sussex could have been leading the way if Westminster and Whitehall had been firmer in the past.

The county is ideally placed to produce clean and green electricity. Wind speeds on the coast are among the strongest in Britain, rivalling those in the Scottish islands.

There is plenty of scope for wave power while the tidal differences on the coastline are among the biggest in the world.

As a result of successive governments and local councils being indifferent to green energy, no wind turbines have been built anywhere in the county.

Opposition to turbines in the Downs would be understandable but they have been rejected in industrial sites such as Shoreham Harbour.

Instead plans are going ahead for councils in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove to get rid of some rubbish by incineration, a commitment likely to last for many years.

Only three per cent of Britain's power at present comes from renewable energy. Much more needs to be done in Sussex and the country as a whole if the Government's new and ambitious targets are to be met.