Earlier this month Environment Secretary Michael Gove launched an ambitious new strategy to “clean up our air and save lives”.

I was a little confused after the launch because I don’t see how this new strategy sits with the proposed new waste incinerator at Rivenhall.

According to Mr Gove’s department, “air pollution is one of the biggest threats to public health in the UK - behind only cancer, obesity and heart disease”.

Mr Gove said the Government will set an ambitious, long-term target to reduce people’s exposure to particulate matter, which the World Health Organisation has identified as the most damaging pollutant.

And yet Gent Fairhead, the company behind the Rivenhall incinerator, wants to burn 595,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial rubbish per year - rubbish that will spew out toxic particulate matter over the surrounding towns and villages that includes many schools and day nurseries.

Plus all 595,000 tonnes of rubbish will have to be transported to the site first by more than 400 diesel-powered lorries per day.

That’s 126,000 lorry movements per year - lorries spewing out fumes near our children’s schools in our towns and villages.

Launching the Clean Air Strategy, Mr Gove said: “Air pollution continues to shorten lives, harm our children and reduce quality of life.

“We must take strong, urgent action. Our ambitious strategy includes new targets, new powers for local government.”

Perhaps if they have the political will Essex County Council and Braintree Council will be able to use these new powers to halt the building of the incinerator?

At the launch of the clean air strategy Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Air pollution poses the single greatest environmental threat to human health.

“Breathing dirty air is associated with a host of health problems, from asthma to cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, and all too often it is the most vulnerable – children, older people and those from poorer backgrounds – who are hit hardest.

“In short: clean air helps you live longer.

“No-one can tackle air pollution alone so it is a duty of government to act for us all. We are determined to clean up our environment and are taking the lead with this Clean Air Strategy.”

Yes Mr Gove and Mr Hancock - we want you to stop the Rivenhall incinerator from being built so we can breath clean air in the Braintree district.

Paul Thorogood

Coggeshall