And Peter Davies told the Times he would NEVER have signed his town up to it.

Speaking after illness forced him to cancel his attendance at this week's meeting, Mr Davies condemned the "constitutional" rules which have barred councillors from debating the decision to approve the BDR Waste Partnership scheme as the "gagging of free speech".

And he also panned a waste boss' claims that his council backs the scheme.

Said Mr Davies: "There might be some gagging rule but I'm not interested in that and I'm certainly not just going to agree to someone that I won't speak out on a matter when it is not conducive to the interests of the people of Doncaster.

"This waste decision was not signed up to by me. I did not sign any document about this and I never would have."

He also refuted this week's comments by BDR Waste Partnership chairman, Coun Richard Russell, who said: "it is important to acknowledge that it is a current and not a legacy commitment from a previous administration".

Mr Davies insisted: "The real decision to give this the go-ahead WAS made by the previous administration and NOT by me.

"It's one of a few things I've had to contend with since I've taken up office which are impossible to get out of."

Mr Davies again pledged his full support to the Times and the campaign against the treatment plant.