I attended this week’s meeting of the planning committee which had the responsibility of making the decision on the siting of the waste incinerator at Ardley.

The meeting opened with the chairman going to some considerable length to explain that Mr Mitchell, the leader of the county council, had not tried to influence their decision in any way, shape or form.

An odd way to start any meeting I thought.

After some sound and factual submissions by the speakers from the floor, all against the proposal, the committee took the vote and surprise, surprise, decided to grant permission for the incinerator.

I found it quite remarkable that Mr Mitchell took the time out to attend the planning meeting, for he is a busy man and especially as I had never seen him at other planning meetings I had attended.

Who says democracy doesn’t work? Welcome to North Oxfordshire, the dumping ground for Middle England and possibly beyond.

Bob Dixon Bucknell Bicester