LOCAL discussions, whether they be on potash mining, fracking or dumping nuclear waste, will become totally irrelevant when the impending Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal is sealed, committing our goods and public services to international private sector competition at all costs, which the Americans now demand.

Significantly, the rights of corporations will override any talk of human rights, and national sovereignty will be overruled by corporate courts – little room for local participation there!

M Johnston, Thirsk.