I WENT to the council meeting at Crewe Town Hall to give my support against the proposed waste recycling site at Middlewich.

Rather naively, I went in there thinking common sense and sound arguments against the proposal would carry the day. Was I in for a shock.

From the start, like naughty children the public was allowed to file into the public gallery and in no uncertain terms were told to keep their mouths shut which we dutifully did.

I always believed the chair person had to remain impartial in such a debate, but when people took to the stand objecting to the proposed site, his often caustic and sarcastic remarks were nothing short of embarrassing.

Middlewich councillors and anyone giving evidence against the proposal were allowed 90 seconds, or, three minutes (depending on who they were) to give their arguments to the board. ANSA and their “experts” where given all the time they wanted to put their opinions across.

It quickly became apparent that the learned councillors of Cheshire East had no idea of anything about Middlewich.

Geography, topography in fact anything about Middlewich was beyond them.

The Middlewich councillors had to “eat into their three minutes” explaining about congestion on Lewin Street, the traffic lights on St Michael’s Way and a host of other sound arguments as to why HGV vehicles will have trouble getting to and from the proposed site.

They didn’t even know that the proposed waste site was different to the site of the proposed waste incinerator that they threw out just over a year ago.

Of particular interest was Cheshire East’s expert on traffic. He determined through “sophisticated computer modelling” that the impact of 1,200 vehicles entering and leaving the site would not impact on the local roads.

Pity, he only had to ask anyone in the public gallery and they’d have told him to come into the real world and jump in a car, never mind a HGV, and try and commute through Middlewich between 7am to 10am and 3pm to 6pm and he would have had his answer.

The audible gasps from the public gallery increased with each passing hour, finally it came to the vote.

The first councillor said, and I quote, “It’s with a heavy heart that I must agree to the proposal”.

Well, he may have had a heavy heart for all of two seconds but the people of Middlewich will have heavy hearts for a generation and more.

The second councillor leapt up and promptly abstained. And so it went on, six for and five against. The day was carried for ANSA.

That council meeting was truly an education for me. The concept of debate, democracy, accountability to the public of serving dignitary’s meant nothing.

I felt the Middlewich councillors and attending public were treated with contempt and disdain.

A sad day for democracy, common sense and a smack in the face for the residents of Middlewich.

When passing through Middlewich in the future have a packed lunch with you and a drink, you’ll need it when stuck in the traffic!

Michael J Mahon Middlewich