APPARENTLY Tony Blair is rushing through plans to prevent opposition to nuclear dumps, power stations, motorways and many other controversial applications. Public inquiries will be silenced.

Had this been in force the National Grid would have faced no opposition to its plans to build a giant power line through the Vale of York, nor would they have had to consider alternatives such as re-routing on their existing network, or buried lines or superconductors.

The same goes for the Vale of Pickering gas extraction plans, which were unnecessary.

All the efforts of local people and councils would have been silenced.

Public inquiries need strengthening because inspectors are often of poor quality and pro-Government, but they allow people and the media to report on issues of public concern, which the Press will no longer be able to do under the new plans. Debate will not be allowed.

The plan for cabinet local Government in York seems also to fit into New Labour's position to kill democracy where it doesn't suit them.

When people find they have no outlets to voice their concerns, there may be terrible and seething anger at local level.

We seem to be lurching to a nasty and corrupt regime where public dissent is not tolerated.

Chris Clayton,

Hempland Drive, York.

Updated: 10:32 Monday, July 02, 2001