I DEEPLY regret the veil of secrecy thrown over the incinerator situation by Worcestershire County Council.

Business confidentiality between Focsa-Severn Waste and Worcestershire County Council should not have precedence over the public's "right to know".

The issue of monetary compensation from the county council to Focsa in the event of the company losing the appeal is a very public matter.

Let us see the contract.

I chaired the April planning meeting of county council at Kidderminster Town Hall and voted to reject Focsa's application to build a waste incinerator at Foley Park's British Sugar site.

I voted to reject the application on planning grounds, as did 10 other members. Only two Worcestershire Liberal Democrats voted in favour.

The county still does not have a waste plan.

Public policy-making must have support from the public.

It is the duty of elected representatives to ensure that democracy is open and honest, and is not buried beneath the waste.

The county council should uphold the decision of its planning committee, terminate the contract with Focsa, and introduce a radical waste plan that rejects the incinerator.

NIGEL KNOWLES

Labour district and town councillor,

Welch Gate,

Bewdley