Last updated 05:41, Friday, 15 August 2008

I WISH to comment on a number of points raised in articles published by your newspaper (The Cumberland News, July 11) and that of your sister newspaper (News & Star, August 13) regarding Hespin Wood recycling site.

Many residents of Todhills, Floriston, Harker and Rockcliffe are convinced that both the county and city councils look upon Hespin Wood as the dumping ground of Cumbria.

We currently have a site that contains hundreds of thousands of animal carcasses from the foot and mouth disaster.

A more recent garden waste composting plant has been installed on the site.

This has led to numerous complaints concerning both excessive noise for six days of the week and obnoxious odours at all times.

The latter has been discussed at two meetings attended by waste management authorities and local residents but the problem still exists.

Hespin Wood site boundaries are but five fields cross country from Rockcliffe Primary School, within half a mile of some Rockcliffe residences and less than a quarter of a mile from Todhills.

This seems to have no bearing upon the location of this facility.

Hespin Wood continues to expand in area and it would be of interest to know just what past, present and future planning has been authorised with local residents being consulted at all times.

Your articles inform us that 30,000 tonnes of waste will be transported to the site each year.

A brochure issued to all local residents by Shanks Cumbria states that this tonnage will not lead to any significant increase in traffic – it surely must do.

Finally I refer to the patronising comments of the then county council deputy leader published in your newspaper on July 11. I quote: “People need not be afraid or frightened of what this means. When you see these plants you hardly know what they are – they are so clean and pleasant.”

She just stops short of telling local residents that they should be privileged to have been selected for the location of this facility.

Seeing that Councillor Stocker now appears to have more time on her hands perhaps consideration should be given to siting the facility on her patch – Windermere!

It is after all in a central county location and her fellow residents would no doubt welcome this pleasant facility.

In reality her fellow residents would be aghast at such a suggestion but my welfare and council tax costs are just as important as theirs – so why not?

LT COL (retd) HJ SMITH MBE RockcliffeCarlisle