As the leader of North Yorkshire County Council at the time I must dispel some of the myths around the Phil Willis campaign against the so-called Rufforth Tip (Evening Press, January 22).

It is simply not true to claim the county council proposed to dump York's waste in the village of Rufforth.

The preferred site at Harewood, which is there for all to see, is some distance from Rufforth village.

The significant environmental concessions which it is claimed was obtained by the vicious and often personalised campaign were always on offer.

The campaign was against the siting of the waste disposal area and the protesters were not interested in concessions. Common sense dictates that as the council ratepayers were facing a loss of savings of more than half a million pounds for each year of the delay, the council was always prepared to concede any reasonable environmental demands to facilitate acceptance.

In fact, the delay cost millions of pounds which could have been spent on other services and none of the horror stories extolled by the protesters have materialised.

When one reads today of the enforced cuts in services, ratepayers in the Greater York area ought to be grateful to those councillors who, despite unpopularity, ensured this much-needed facility was provided. Vast savings have and are continuing to be made for them.

John Clout,

Acomb Road,

York.

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