MEMBERS of the public have been barred from taking the platform to speak at a public meeting about the controversial Winsford salt mine plan.

The stage at Winsford Civic Hall for the meeting, due to take place last night, Tuesday, was reserved for representatives from Cheshire County Council, the Environment Agency and Minosus, the company whose plan to store waste at the mine has caused such a furore.

Chris Whitaker, the 16-year-old at the forefront of the campaign against the plan, has slammed the idea as putting the authorities on an elevated level above the public.

Chris, who since finishing his GCSEs is devoting all his time to fighting the plan, asked the council if he could make a speech to inform people of how the scheme may affect them.

But Winsford Town Council, which organised the meeting, wants information to be conveyed formally and to avoid protest.

"I wanted to take the platform and felt I should have been able to because it's the public who are going to be affected by the decision," Chris said.

"The environment and planning people are being given elevated status on an elevated stage. It's the public's views which matter as they are going to have to put up with the consequences, so it makes a bit of a mockery of it being a public meeting.

"When all is said and done, people are people so everybody should be on the same level.

"I understand they are qualified but it doesn't make their opinions any more important. What they have to say is important but it doesn't make their opinions any more worthwhile."

Chris has voiced his opinion on TV numerous times, most recently on the BBC's North Westminster programme last Sunday.

He has also addressed the public at a meeting in Moulton.

The main point of his argument is how the tonnes of waste at the Jack Lane site will affect generations to come.

"The younger generation are bringing up kids and they are going to have to be living with this dump if it goes ahead, so if anyone's views are important then it's younger people," Chris said.

Winsford Town Council made the decision not to allow Chris, or any other opponents of the plan, to speak last Monday night.

A spokesperson said: "We want the people of Winsford to be given the facts and these are the people who can present the information.

"The public will have every chance to speak and ask questions regarding the issue."

Minosus managing director Roger Shaw said that debate on the issue was "essential" in the first open meeting he has attended since the proposals were put forward.

Before the meeting, he said: "People who go along are not going just to listen and I think they would feel aggrieved if those who spoke took too long.

"Most people want an open debate and I would agree to that. We don't intend to do anything other than state the background before taking questions."

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