SIR: The recent High Court decision confirming Bolton Council's planning permission for the Raikes Lane Incinerator is bad news for local people. This major development has now been officially approved without any serious attempt to assess the associated health risks, or to examine possibilities for less environmentally damaging systems of waste management.

In the limited soil testing undertaken so far, the sample taken from closest to the site of the old incinerator, has revealed dioxin content six times higher than the average UK background level, a level which would cause the German government to consider banning its use for agriculture. Further environmental monitoring was promised by GM Waste two years ago, but has not been forthcoming.

Nitrogen oxide omissions, linked to the incidence of asthma, particularly among children and old people, will be equivalent to every man, woman and child in Bolton driving a thousand miles per year in a family car. Added to the existing high levels from heavy traffic along St Peter's Way, we believe that national air quality standards will be breached, yet there have been no tests in the vicinity of the site to establish existing levels.

Instead of chasing illusory environmental awards, the Council would be far better employed working to protect the health, and peace of mind of local people, not passing the buck to the Environment Agency, which has never yet failed to authorise an incinerator that has planning permission.

Dennis Watson

(For Bolton

Friends of the Earth)

Millgate, Egerton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.