MADAM - Stroud Green Party views the Secretary of State’s delays in taking a decision on the Conservative Gloucestershire County Council’s proposed incinerator as positive.

What really matters is that the decision is taken with regard to all the most relevant and up-to-date information.

Many of the arguments as to why this facility is inappropriate become stronger with the passing of time.

Mr Carmichael’s election fever has led him to blame SDC for causing the delay.

That is plainly wrong and he should apologise.

The first delay was due to the Conservative Secretary of State accepting new evidence from GlosVAIN and asking other parties to the appeal hearing to comment on it.

That evidence mainly concerned the recent planning permission granted by Gloucestershire County Council for an MBT and AD facility at Wingmoor Farm, Bishops Cleeve.

Mr Pickles then decided to allow time for those parties to respond to each others comments.

But he has also asked for their views on his department’s recently revised National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW) and how it might impact upon his decision.

So while some may question his motives for delaying, we believe the NPPW, the findings of the recent EFRA parliamentary committee and GlosVAIN’s submission all make rejection of the appeal more likely.

Gerald Hartley

Stroud Green Party and GlosVAIN Member Standish Lane Moreton Valence