Eric Pickles, confusion and the farce that is planning

The Western Morning News on Saturday featured an article on Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities.

Written by Graeme Demianyk, it was titled: "Straight-talking Eric is Tory champion of responsible localism." But nothing could have been further from the truth and comments about 'localism' and 'his' decision to sanction an incinerator at St Dennis beggar belief. The relevant extract is as follows:

Some people have questioned his decision to approve an incinerator to be built in St Dennis in the heart of Cornwall, overruling widespread local opposition to the £117 million mass burner. He is clear he does not know the details of St Dennis, as decisions can be taken in his name. But he argues that there is no contradiction with his localism agenda.

“There’s no contradiction in something that has national importance. Localism is not about people being able to say ‘no’ to a piece of national infrastructure, or regional infrastructure, that has value to people outside their neighbourhood. Localism is about local people making decisions and accepting the consequences.”

So there we have it. The incinerator was given the go-ahead by civil servants acting on behalf of Mr Pickles, who clearly knows nothing about the plant. What a farce!