SIR – The headline in the Daily Telegraph on July 26 declared ‘Eric Pickles to ban building incinerators in green belt’.

Yet the local press all reported in July 2012 that Mr Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said there was a compelling and urgent need for the facility (an incinerator in Elmley Lovett, near Hartlebury) and that there was no alternative.

They also reported that Mr Pickles had said the “special case” meant it could go ahead despite being in the green belt. However, the Department of Communities and Local Government confirmed this year that Mr Pickles did not consider this case for the inquiry.

They have said that they “confirm that the Secretary of State has never been sent papers on this case”.

It is understood the previous Under Secretary of State determined this case.

Obviously, all the compelling letters showing the facts around this site were completely disregarded.

If anyone had really looked at the facts it would have become clear that there are better, cheaper alternatives to burning materials that should be recycled or dealt with using alternative methods that do not destroy the environment and the countryside.

Even Worcestershire County Council recognises in its own report that the incinerator is the worst performing in terms of ecotoxicology and next to worst in terms of acidification and global warming.

Incinerators are neither clean nor green. The recycling centre at Norton is reported to have cost taxpayers in excess of £12 million.

It has not been effectively run and there is spare capacity to recycle more.

When will councillors sit up and take notice instead of just listening to one biased side?

That is, except, of course, the growing number of intelligent and responsible councillors who care about their counties and are prepared to find out facts for themselves.

E M JONES

Kidderminster