THE online version of the Keighley News has a report on the protest march organised by Aire Valley Against Incineration on Saturday.

I was there to watch the 380 protesters and 15 dogs walk past me in Bradford Road. Not “more than 600”, as in your report, although others did join the march at Victoria Park before marching to Church Green.

The procession was well marshalled, but I wondered why they all crossed the road, stopping traffic in both directions as they did, ignoring the pedestrian crossing 50 yards away, and causing stopped vehicles to emit pollution fumes as they waited to move.

Rachel Shimbles comments that the “79 roles for skilled incinerator operatives will be advertised nationally” – but surely that is better than using unskilled labour, whether locally sourced or not?

As for “standing in front of a bulldozer”, that particular ship has long since sailed, as the ground clearance work has already been done.

But the worst scaremongering is the unproven and indefensible assertion building the incinerator will mean “goodbye to all the wildlife in this valley”.

Try telling that to the one million starlings who roost on the Runcorn Bridge every night, not far from another incinerator.

The proof of a democracy is its ability to sustain informed and sensible debate on a ‘Marmite’ subject, which is why I disagree with my three fellow councillors, who spoke at the rally in Church Green.

I will, however, represent any view, for or against, expressed by Bogthorn residents, even if I do live on a hill in the not particularly ‘posh’ village of Oakworth – none of which explains the presence of a tall, bearded man with a blue Mohican haircut, taking photographs of my house yesterday. Am I being watched?

MARTIN WALKER Wood View Road, Oakworth * EDITOR’S NOTE. The march organisers themselves reported turnout as being “over 600”, and their comment was accurately reported by the Keighley News.