21 2 2000

Dear Editor,

Castle Cement have accused groups opposed to their proposals to build a new hazardous toxic waste burning cement kiln at Padeswood of scaremongering.  They would wouldn’t they!  They should perhaps bear in mind the following points.

They are on record as stating that they would rather close down the Padeswood plant than appeal if the Labour dominated Flintshire County Council Planning Committee refused their planning application by a large majority. If they did intend to appeal irrespective of any vote against their application then their statement to the contrary is a scaremongering lie to their loyal and supportive workforce and to the general public. If they did not intend to appeal but would rather close the plant than to face the public enquiry that would inevitably ensue from an appeal then ‘What is their position now’?  If I was a Castle Cement employee my confidence in the company to preserve my job would be seriously undermined by this publicly stated stance.

Paragraph 8-12 of the planning officers report headed ‘Adequacy of the environmental statement’ is very critical of its standard and rightly so.  In view of this it is hardly surprising that there are serious public concerns about Castle’s plans. Veiled threats of possible legal action from a large and arrogant multinational company against individuals who express legitimate concerns is itself scaremongering. The term ‘bully boy’ tactics springs to mind.

Recently Castle have said that they will postpone investment in their plant at Clitheroe because of what they see as a delay at Padeswood.  The connection is not obvious.  Are they serious or is this scaremongering too?

The impression is that Castle Cement  wish to avoid a public debate about their plans at Padeswood if they can.  I wonder why?

Come clean Castle.  In the long run it is in your interests as well as ours.

Yours scaremongeringly
 

Professor D.G.Hall