Letter: MPs should speak for the people

Letter: I was amazed to read Lee Brazier's letter of July 30, which berated our Shropshire MPs for speaking up on behalf of their constituents.

At his public meeting on the incinerator in March, Daniel Kawczynski made it quite clear that he was unable to take a stance on any matter unless his constituents wished him to do so – there was only one voice in support of this incinerator, and that was ex-councillor Eileen Sandford.

He was bombarded with letters asking for his support. Incineration is simply not the answer because there are other much less invasive and cheaper methods to provide energy, either to the gas main or to the electricity grid, whilst at the same time reducing landfill.

The incinerator, if built, will burn 24/7 for the 35 years of its life, requiring expensive chemicals to clean the flue gases but still emitting toxic substances into the atmosphere and producing toxic ash which requires special handling. Not to mention the 78,992 tonnes of CO2 produced from the 90,000 tonnes of waste it will burn each year – what is green about that?

It is not just our Conservative MP who is against incineration, but also, I believe, the Labour and Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidates, the Green Party, Friends of the Earth, and, of course, the large number of local people who, like me, have asked Daniel to act on their behalf.

There is nothing "nimby" or "Luddite" in wanting the very best and latest technology to deal with our waste.

I cannot speak for the people in north or south Shropshire who have asked their MPs for assistance, but it is refreshing to have an MP who actually takes on board the concerns of the vast majority of his constituents.

Mr A N Hall

Shrewsbury