The members of the Denholme Residents Action Group are naturally devastated at the outcome of their battle against plans to turn a quarry into a landfill tip.

But they have come away from this with their self-respect intact and their heads held high.

They took on Goliath - funded out of their own pockets - and sadly lost out.

They cannot afford to appeal, but thankfully haven't given up all hope.

As for the company Integrated Waste Management Ltd, they have pledged to be good neighbours and have offered what they see as a package of benefits.

The only unsavoury element is the verbal pollution now coming from local politicians from the two main parties.

DRAG was left fighting the good fight alone after the council decided not to take part, having followed legal advice. As one would expect, the decision wasn't taken lightly and had been made to avoid the council being liable for huge costs if the appeal was upheld. Where have we heard that one before?

Of course the error was that of the previous Labour-led council. The Conservatives had no option - again bound by law - but to stick to those previous decisions.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Both parties should feel downright ashamed that once again the response is to descend to cheap point scoring and finger pointing.

The good folk of Denholme were let down by the people who they elected to represent their views. They had every right to expect - nay demand - that the council back them all the way. They had good and just grounds for their action.

Surely the council also had grounds to proceed. Where is the evidence that the council would have had to pay out huge costs? The other question is just who runs the council - the elected members or the officers?

What must happen now is that the council ensures the 41 conditions imposed by the inspector are rigorously adhered to.