THE letter Opponents Of Incinerator Make Me Sick (News Shopper, July 26) accuses Bexley residents of hypocrisy and nimbyism. To the charge of nimbyism we can all plead guilty.

No-one wants this incinerator in their backyard.

But a coherent Government policy could instead reward councils responding to the need to recycle more and penalise those who do not, institute a rubbish disposal tax and require incinerators to be sited away from densely-populated areas.

Bexley's recycling rate is 38 per cent, compared with seven to eight per cent for Wandsworth and Hammersmith, whose rubbish we would be burning.

Bexley Council also had plans for an incinerator in Norman Road, Belvedere, which would have burned the 78,000 tonnes of rubbish Bexley collects.

If this incinerator goes ahead it will contravene natural justice.

Heavier, dangerous emissions are likely to land on the Bexleyheath plateau and the whole system relies on the efficient sorting of rubbish.

Can we believe this will always happen?

Do we need another incinerator to add to Crossness and Queen Mary's?

Why are we being penalised in this way?

Despite the application for a judicial review, Bexley people should be prepared to fight for justice and join long-time incinerator opponents BADAIR. It is time to support and join.

MR G BIRCHALL

Bexleyheath