With regard to the public inquiry into the proposed incinerator in Newhaven, a public inquiry gives the public and, in this case, Lewes District Council - which is also against the incinerator being built - the chance to cross-examine East Sussex County Council and Veolia about the decision made to build an incinerator.

The county council gave no assurances to the public about the decision in relation to noise, dust, traffic or pollution.

In fact, Councillor Martyn Perry when being cross-examined by objectors stated he was not a waste management expert so could not answer many of the technical questions put by them. Mr Hunt, of Veolia, said he was "not a scientist".

Many worrying scenarios came to light on the day I attended.

One vital question put forward, which remains unanswered, was the quantity of waste from business. We were told, however, that business waste would be subsidised by the taxpayer. As for traffic, objectors were informed that the Newhaven gyratory was not included as part of the traffic simulated computer programme.

The simulation also assumed the incinerator would be up and running by 2009. However, it is presumed by objectors that traffic would be even heavier by 2012 - the revised date of commissioning.

John Styrad, a member of the public, asked if the contract had been signed without councillors knowing that greener and cleaner technologies were already available from Veolia, such as plasma enhanced gassification or anaerobic digestion - the former being much less pollutive and practised by Veolia in America, where more stringent air pollution regulations exist.

Coun Perry could not comment about what Veolia was doing. Neither could Mr Hunt.

Protesters also wanted to know why Sussex had a power-only incinerator being built rather than a heat and power facility.

Again, no answer. Tony Mouser, of Friends of the Earth, pointed out that it was important that the range of items we recycle needed extending and collecting by councils.

All in all the objectors were left without answers to many questions.

  • Janice Alderson
    King's Avenue
    Newhaven