SIR – Regarding Bid to halt waste plan , further to your article last week regarding a petition (against the possible use of land on Royston Road as a waste treatment site) which was handed to Hertfordshire County Council as part of its six-week public c

SIR - Regarding "Bid to halt waste plan", further to your article last week regarding a petition (against the possible use of land on Royston Road as a waste treatment site) which was handed to Hertfordshire County Council as part of its six-week public consultation into future waste planning for the county, I would firstly like to say that we welcome all feedback from the community. The responses that we received are currently being collated and analysed.

This consultation was the start of a lengthy process and the documents on which we sought public opinion - the Core Strategy, Development Policies and Site Specific Allocations - form part of the Waste and Minerals Development Framework (statutory planning papers that guide the use of land for minerals and waste). Each document has to go through a number of stages including submission to the Secretary of State, followed by further consultation, before it can be finally adopted by the county council. The Core Strategy has been submitted for examination by a Government-appointed planning inspector with the remaining two documents to follow, possibly towards the end of the year, after further consultation.

Some sites may be dropped from the preferred sites list if it becomes apparent as the process moves forward that there are over-riding reasons why they are not suitable to be considered further. This all sounds very bureaucratic but the intention is to make sure everyone has their say before any final decisions are made.

The cost of landfill is increasing dramatically, suitable space is running out and it is harmful to the environment. We have to consider all the options available to us and ensure we have long-term, environmentally and economically sound ways to manage our waste.

Cllr DERRICK ASHLEY

Executive Member for Planning, Partnerships and Waste

Hertfordshire County Council

SIR - Readers in Baldock may be aware that the county council has highlighted the area of land between the Clothall Common estate and the railway line as a possible site for a waste management plant. Local residents are campaigning against this proposal and I fully support them.

This is clearly the wrong location for such a facility which is bound to be ugly to look at, noisy and could easily lead to the spread of waste and litter. It would be sited next to Clothall Common, made up of over 1,000 homes, create a horrible eyesore to those entering Baldock from the direction of Royston and could be a potential health and safety hazard to local residents.

We must fight against this proposal and I fully support local residents campaigning against it.

JUNE SMITH

Eisenberg Close

Baldock