Year-round summertime is not a bright idea

THE tired old chestnut of retaining summertime all year round once again rears its equinocturnal head (Editorial, March 27).

It seems like a good idea right now, but wait until the mornings get very dark when the deep midwinter sets in.

The longer days around the summer solstice in high latitudes offer more freedom to shift daylight from morning to evening so that early morning daylight is not wasted. This benefits the economy, contrary to your editorial opinion that changing the clock is an expensive handicap.

Forget about losing just one hour now as we’ll get it back at the end of October. Most of the working day contains the narrow band of daylight during winter. Darkness lasts much longer on a midwinter morning than on a midsummer morning.

It would be foolish to enforce daylight saving time (or “summertime”) during the winter months. Children would leave for school in the dark. People easily forget the obvious.

Michael Mernagh

Raheens

Carrigaline

Co Cork