I WAS somewhat surprised that R J Mathews (Gazette Letters, August 31) believes the “sell off” was the reason for the closure of Tilbury Power Station, because our power stations are now owned by French, German and Spanish companies who can do as they wish, the Government having no power to stop them.

You’re exactly right, the Government has no power, but neither do the owners whether French, German, Spanish or indeed British, our Government signed these powers over to the EU.

We are bound by treaty to accept and implement EU legislation and the EU has issued directives which require us to move away from fossil fuels. Which is why we are closing power stations, paying green taxes and risk having blackouts again.

As I said, it is our Government’s slavish implementation of EU regulation’s that is responsible for the closures.

So, quite frankly, it would not have mattered if Tilbury Power Station was owned by martians, we are duty bound to implement the EU regulations – foreign ownership does not come into the equation.

DAVID A MORRISH Hearsall Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope.