RESIDENTS fighting tallow burning at Nightingale Hall Farms have slated their local councillors for failing to support them. The Freehold Community Association (FCA) say they are dismayed that their ward councillors have backed the tallow burning plans and failed to acknowledge their protest letters. But councillors have hit back saying there is no evidence to suggest burning tallow poses any health risks.

FCA's Chairman, Dr John Whitelegg, claims three letters asking councillors to support them have not even been acknowledged.

"Here we have a situation where the whole Freehold community is against tallow burning but our ward councillors, who are supposed to represent us, have ignored us," said Dr Whitelegg.

"We want the council on our side and are still hoping they will see sense and overturn their decision. What we see here is a Labour controlled council bending to highly contentious scientific evidence and working to help Nightingale Hall Farm rather than help worried residents."

A group of Freehold residents have recently discussed taking the council to court over the tallow burning issue and have had talks with a leading environmental barrister.

Said Dr Whitelegg: "We don't want to take legal action but it seems that it's the only language the council will listen to. When you try to put your case across and councillors don't even acknowledge your letters you have to explore other avenues. We think the council has a case to answer in court and if we can raise about £5,000 then that's exactly what we will do."

Ward councillor, Abbott Bryning, said he was currently preparing to respond to Dr Whitelegg and stressed that there was no way he would risk the health of locals.

He said: "I've a long history of opposition to the farm, I've been campaigning to have it relocated for 20 years, but there is no evidence that shows that there's infectious emissions from Nightingale Hall Farm as a result of burning tallow."

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