YOUR lead story in last week's Keighley News is headed 3,000-name petition may be rejected in 'polluting monster' bid.

Now, I really am Confused of Bogthorn, as I clearly remember attending a presentation some years ago in the civic centre, when the initial proposal to build the '£135 million energy plant' was first unveiled for public approval.

The overall, very favourable impression was that this scheme would be of direct benefit to Keighley – while taking into account residents’ concerns – and it was then approved by members of Keighley Town Council, who included the current town mayor.

Bradford Council then considered it at length (this is 'due diligence', also called 'giving everyone a fair hearing') and requested a number of significant changes to the proposed scheme, including, I think, raising the height of the chimney and its 'plume'. Once those changes had been made, the revised scheme was approved – and I remember a very positive lead article in the Keighley News at the time.

Now, a small unrepresentative group of protestors (AVAI), who gained 3,147 names for their petition against the so-called “huge polluting monster”, sought to influence Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee as it decided whether or not finally to approve the twice revised proposal. The committee gave its approval.

Two questions: how many of the 3,147 objectors are residents of Keighley and directly affected by the proposed scheme? Simple maths would indicate 94 per cent of Keighley’s population is not concerned or not opposed to it. And would the NIMBYs of Riddlesden prefer to look out on derelict gasometers and thereby waste a potentially lucrative brownfield development?

MARTIN WALKER

Wood View Road

Oakworth