By Owen Fairclough, PA News

   Environmental campaigners today called for a full public inquiry into a controversial tyre-burning experiment which was suspended after it flouted emission regulations.

   Warwickshire-based Rugby Cement was yesterday ordered to halt the  incineration of tyre chips in its giant kiln which it has been testing as a replacement for fossil fuels.

   Environment Agency officials took action after the company continued to burn tyres for three hours when a fuse blew on a dust collection unit, leading to the discharge of higher than agreed levels of
  particulates over the town.

   Rugby Cement will be allowed to resume the trial only after new operating procedures are in place.

   The experiment has aroused widespread opposition in the town, with  pressure group Rugby In Plume (RIP) and the borough council demanding a public inquiry into why it was given the go-ahead despite
  health concerns about the toxic emissions.

   Lillian Pallikaropoulos, leader of RIP, claimed that, during the past three months, Rugby Cement had twice burned tyres for more than  40 hours over the permitted particulate emission levels.

   ``It's unbelievable that the Environment Agency only step in when they they burn for three hours over the agreed limits,'' Mrs Pallikaropoulos said.

   ``Maybe they feel that the noose is tightening around their neck because they know full well that Rugby Borough Council is asking for a full public inquiry.

   ``The question everybody is now asking is not can they (Rugby Cement) burn tyres, but can they burn anything in the middle of what  is supposed to be a smokeless zone in a
    residential area?''

   The Agency granted Rugby Cement permission to start the six-month  trial in May after scientists concluded incinerating tyres would not endanger human health.

   Officials believe that using the chips to supply up to 40% of the kiln's fuel will have a long-term benefit on the environment by reducing dependence on coal.

   But RIP, whose concerns have been shared by the local primary care trust and borough council, claim monitoring equipment stationed around the town found the air was already of a sub-standard quality
  prior to the trial starting.

   Mrs Pallikaropoulos added: ``There are lives at risk because of  this. "People have been told it is not hazardous but it jolly well is.  They have been lied to again and again.''
 

   The Agency's environment manager Dr David Hudson said the fault occurred in the early hours of June 21.

   ``After the problem arose the plant continued to burn chipped tyres but this is specifically forbidden by our permit conditions,'' Dr Hudson said.

   ``Whilst the incident itself was probably not of major environmental significance, management failures are unacceptable.

   ``The company needs to gain the trust of the local community and failures like this do not help to build such trust.''
 

   Plant general manager Bob Millard said in a statement: ``While the one part of the unit was not working there was an increase in emissions and the Environment Agency have stated that
   this was not of  major environmental significance.
   ``This increase would have occurred regardless of the fuel we were using at the time and was not related to tyres.''

   Mr Millard added that, although a fuse blew in a dust collection unit, the firm decided to continue burning tyres because the equipment had continued to function, though this was classed as a
   plant malfunction by the Agency and prompted the shutdown.

   end

   021029 JUL 04