I WAS recently elected to the vacant seat on Keighley Town Council, winning 96 per cent of the postal and polling station votes on a low turnout of 18 per cent on a wild and windy day in Oakworth.

Nevertheless, I regard this as a mandate for Bogthorn and Exley.

In response to Wendy Halloway’s letter on AVAI’s behalf, firstly I have views on the inward investment the proposed incinerator scheme at Marley demonstrates, however I also take on board an opposing view on the doorstep locally.

I have never looked at or ‘befriended’ Facebook, which was used to publish disgusting untrue and libellous remarks about my wife when she was town mayor – and, like it or not, the Keighley News is the best and most informative local newspaper.

Ms Halloway is “not a NIMBY”, “will not be able to see the ugly new building” but fears the emissions; I was told by someone who knew the facts that ‘scrubbers’ will remove any harmful gases (there will be no ‘toxic waste’) and, of course, there are strict Environment Agency standards to be applied, without which the scheme will never be granted a licence.

Finally, I shall ignore the cheap shot about where I live; having worked for the infamous Derek Hatton in Liverpool in the past, I know all about bully-boy tactics from the Labour administration in place at the time. I was even made redundant one Christmas, along with 25,000 colleagues, as a cost-cutting exercise aimed at removing a virtual deficit, and reinstating us on New Year’s Day.

Thank you again to the electors for giving me a chance – it will be a steep learning curve, but I promise to represent all shades of opinion, both within my ward and on Keighley Town Council.

COUNCILLOR MARTIN WALKER Bogthorn and Exley ward, Keighley Town Council