A MAN who has shared his concerns about a new waste incinerator plan is complaining of what he says is a 'lack of transparency' over the matter.

David Williams, of Rockcliffe, said he had been trying to find out who monitors the active recycling sites in Carlisle after two fire incidents - but he claimed he has had no luck from trying almost every avenue, including writing to the county council, his MP, and attending a parish council meeting.

In an open letter to John Metcalfe, chief executive of Cumbria County Council, David wrote: “With applications pending to burn rubber tyres, plastics, plus an incinerator for anyone’s waste, it’s not an unreasonable request.

“Europe don’t want anything to do with it or the rest of the UK, so why Carlisle?

“A recent permission (was) granted to extend facilities at Kingmoor Park (in) Rockcliffe.

“Who is to monitor even more waste storage?

“Bearing in mind the weeks of toxic fumes in the air on local farmland and into people’s houses.

“Also, a comment by Cumbria County Council that HGV numbers would be limited is a direct contradiction of your letter of August 8, 2022, which clearly states you have no control of vehicles off-site.

“The decision by the Environment Agency to not hold any public meetings regarding the final decision on a waste incinerator, pushed through by Cumbria County Council (is) directly against the wishes of local residents, to be sited near schools, houses, places of work, supermarkets, and food processing plants.

“Objections dealt with behind closed doors could easily disappear.

“Cumbria today (has) no democracy, no transparency, decisions taken behind closed doors, miles away, with no thought to local people or their environment."

A spokesperson from Cumbria County Council said: “All planning applications for major waste management facilities, including the yet-to-be-built Kingmoor Energy from Waste development, have been determined by the County Council’s Development Control and Regulation Committee following extensive public consultations and consultations with statutory agencies.

“All reports into these applications can be found on our website which include summaries of objections."

They added that the County Council and Environment Agency will monitor it all until April 1, when the new unitary authorities are responsible.

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