I was interested to read Tom Mitchell’s letter about landfill and waste reduction (July 21).

Having attended the recent North Yorkshire County Council meeting at Northallerton as a member of the public, I am surprised he is not already aware there is a plan to build a vast incinerator at Allerton Park near Knaresborough. I am surprised because all except for 16 of our 72 elected representatives voted against holding a public debate about this controversial plan because they claimed that there was already a debate ongoing, and the public were already informed. Of course, I’m not really surprised.

I live in Helperby, a mere 11 miles from the site, and I have had no information from the council at all, despite the fact that I will be directly affected by emissions.

If you would like to know more or join the debate, you could visit the North Yorkshire Waste Action Group (NYWAG) website. However, I understand from Coun John Clarke at the meeting I attended, you cannot do so if you are a councillor, as the website has been blocked on their computers. So, not only do your elected representatives not want to talk to you about this, someone does not want them hearing the other side of the argument.

Big Society? Big con.

Jessica Barfield, Main Street, Helperby.