I WAS very disappointed that the quite reasonable request from Bromsgrove Labour Group leader Luke Mallett that Bromsgrove District Council support his motion that a non-statutory public inquiry be held into the problems surrounding Marlbrook tip was rejected by the Tory Group.

One of the Tory councillors claimed an inquiry would be pointless and that many of the staff responsible for the Marlbrook tip problems were no longer in post.

Another Tory councillor put forward a motion that a cross-party group which included local residents, council officers and their legal team be established as an alternative to an independent inquiry. In my opinion that is a classic case of kicking the problem into the long grass and hoping that it just might go away.

The establishment of the cross-party working party will not halt the current Environment Agency authorisation granted to the tip owner to proceed with further dumping of restoration soil.

The recent public meeting revealed this would mean 400 lorries a week for a sixmonth period visiting the tip to meet the target that has been authorised. A public inquiry might well also have required that everything be put on hold until the inquiry had been concluded and allowed to make recommendations.

its s How can residents have any confidence in the future management of the tip?

Bernard McEldowney Lickey End