I refer to Paul Green’s letter about the planned incinerator (Oxford Mail, February 7).

Mr Green of the Waste Recycling Group (WRG) appeared to misunderstand the role of the Health Protection Agency.

The simple fact is that the HPA reviews applications rather than carry out an independent health risk assessment. He and WRG should know that.

Moreover, he does not explain that WRG failed to include the crucial human health risk assessment appendices in their original application.

Perhaps he could now do so.

The result, however, is that Oxfordshire County Council is having to launch a fresh three-week public consultation.

This has the advantage that it gives us another opportunity to object to this massive incinerator.

On another point, Government guidance recommends that applicants submit their planning and environmental permit applications at the same time.

Again this approach has not been followed by WRG – which submitted its planning application back in July 2008.

The Environment Agency has refused to comment on the pollution control aspects of the planning application on the grounds that the more detailed information required to allow them to comment will only be available once the environmental permit application has been submitted.

As such, no statutory body has reviewed or commented on the pollution control aspects of the planning application.

We believe the county council should not consider the planning application until such a review has been undertaken.

WRG finally submitted its permit application at the end of January. We strongly urge the council to delay its consideration of the planning application until the Environment Agency has considered the pollution control aspects of the environmental permit application.

Only then can the public have any confidence in the process and that the council is fulfilling its duty of care.

CALLUM MACKENZIE, Drayton Road, Sutton Courtenay