I read with much sadness and some anger the article in last week's Cornish Times regarding Plymouth's proposal to build a huge waste incinerator on the banks of the River Tamar directly opposite Saltash waterfront. The article stated that a 'public examination was held in February'. Alas this meeting was not public. No one could speak there unless they had already responded to Plymouth's earlier 'consultation' – a procedure so secretive that no member of the Cornish public, nor Saltash Town Council, nor Caradon District Council, apparently knew anything about it until it was almost over. What a travesty to have that procedure declared 'sound' by the examiner when it was carried out so silently. Our objections seem to have been totally ignored. Democracy is dead, it would appear. The inspector, who no doubt lives a very long way away from here, stated that the scheme will not adversely affect Saltash – obviously! After all, no one here will mind having our air, soil and river polluted, our views despoiled, our wildlife savaged, our homes devalued, all by this cheap and nasty scheme. But we don't matter. We have no votes to affect the Plymouth city councillors, do we? Maybe we should demand that Cornwall County Council greatly reduces our council tax as our quality of life here will deteriorate markedly with the building of this pollution monster. And we do have votes to back up our complaints in Cornwall!
S Lambert Saltash