Dear Sir,
With reference to the articles in Newton News, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents for their support and hard work in getting the application declined. I personally would like to thank all the residents who put forward questions to myself and Heighington Lane Incineration Plant Information Group. The numerous people who walked the streets to put leaflets through the doors to notify people of the application.
Residents Eileen Brewis, John Longley, David Storry, Gerald Lee, Anthony McMahon and Mark Rowcroft who all spent hours on Teams meetings discussing, researching and writing the paper, ‘Residents Report’, in order to present to DCC Planning Committee.
Taking part in the Teams meeting for residents; Lobbying Councillors and MP to show strength of feeling of residents and businesses against the proposal; Protesting during site visit; Challenging Fornax, Castellum and MPs statements for clarity of the process;
Questioning the impartiality of the process.
I wish to thank all the people who spoke at the Planning Committee meeting. To dismiss that the residents were not an active and forceful element in this democratic process is very demeaning and insulting to the residents and businesses of Newton Aycliffe and surrounding areas.
We have not been elected or paid to spend time challenging the proposal, we have done so for the benefit of all people working and living in Newton Aycliffe and surrounding areas, regardless of political persuasion. It is my opinion that working alongside/collectively with each other, not separately, could strengthen the union of democracy in the area. All parties who worked to stop the building of the incinerator deserve credit for their part in the process.
The political landscape in County Durham and the North East is changing and all elected representatives need to adapt and serve their constituents in conjunction with all stakeholders to achieve objectives and political advancement.
H. Longley