DEFRA WILL MEET LLANCLOUDY RESIDENTS - BUT ONLY IN LONDON!

9.00.00am GMT Tue 5th Jul 2005

DEFRA Minister, Ben Bradshaw, has promised Hereford's MP, Paul Keetch, that he will meet the MP and residents of Llancloudy to discuss removal of waste from Hill Farm in Llancloudy, but only in London. Mr Bradshaw has told Mr Keetch in a written Parliamentary Answer that because of "ongoing litigation" between the owners of Hill Farm and DEFRA, officials believe the meeting should not be on site.

"I am pleased that DEFRA officials will meet me and local residents but I am puzzled as to why the meeting can't take place on site", said Mr Keetch.

"I would have thought that discussing a route for the waste would be easier on site, but never mind. DEFRA have also said that no route has yet been agreed and I want assurances that no final decision will be made until a meeting takes place. They tell me that their preferred route is along the main access drive - but the owners of Hill Farm, Mr Feakins and Mrs Hawkins, have not agreed this.

"I will now be asking the Llancloudy Residents' Association to nominate someone to come to London to meet DEFRA officials."