I WAS at the County Council Development sub-committee meeting in the Ribble Valley Council Chamber on May 16, when local residents and councillors gave their views as to whether Castle Cement should apply for planning permission to burn hazardous waste, in the form of Cemfuel, in their kilns.

All the speakers - representatives of local and national action groups, town, parish and Ribble Valley councillors and Ribble Valley officers - were unanimous that planning permission was required and that there was a need for a full environmental study.

Imagine my horror then, on attending the Lancashire County Council meeting in Preston on June 4 to find Ribble Valley representative County Coun Chris Holtom, who had been present at the meeting on May 16, taking a completely opposite stance.

He continually referred to the hazardous waste as 'fuel' and supported 100 per cent the recommendation that planning permission was not required. Who exactly was he speaking for? Certainly not the electorate of the Ribble Valley.

It was encouraging, however, to see that it was decided that if Castle Cement apply to burn tyres and carpets in their kilns they will require planning permission. Presumably councillors recognise tyres and carpets and know they contain toxic material. Do they assume that because Cemfuel looks harmless it is harmless? Surely not.

Although badly let down by Lancashire County Council, local residents who value their health should not despair but channel their anger and disappointment into positive action.

They can write to the new Secretary of State for the Environment, Mr Michael Meacher, expressing their concerns. And they can also write to local MP Mr Nigel Evans, who has been successful in the ballot for private Members' Bills, asking him to introduce a Bill which would bring UK emission levels into line with those in Europe.

Such legislation would ensure that we will all be protected from the kind of pollution we are currently being subjected to.

J M MORTIMER (Mrs), Green Drive, Clitheroe.

Footnote: We are informed that County Coun. Holtom did not express an opinion or vote at the May 16 meeting but made his views known at the meeting on June 4 - Editor.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.