I have to say that I find Tony Allan's (Castle Cement, Padeswood General Manager) bland reassurance, on the front page of the Flintshire Evening Leader, that: "We have been here for 54 years and had no impact and there will be no impact from this new development" offensive in the extreme.

Does he still think that the local population is both naive and stupid?

HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT?!

For years Padeswood, under his management, has been the most appalling dioxin polluter - the worst cement plant in the UK.

FACT
Dioxins are the most toxic carcinogen know to man. So dangerous that it is now recognised that there is no safe dosage. Is it not likely, therefore, that some local
cancers; heart problems; diabetes; thyroid problems; and respiratory illnesses could be attributed to the plant? He certainly cannot say that they could not.

"there will be no impact from this new development"

HOW CAN HE POSSIBLY SAY THAT?

FACT
The new kiln WILL produce dioxins. It is part of the process of burning Cemfuel. These may be projected to be much less than the current plant but, remember,
there is no safe lower limit. And those projections could be wildly out especially when considering the inevitable unauthorised emissions that will occur.
I am not aware of any abatement technology that Castle propose to reincinerate those dioxins and eliminate them, so they will go up the chimney.

FACT
Vapourised heavy metals, also toxic, will be produced, especially from the burning of tyres. These, also, cannot be eliminated from the flue gases and will go up the
chimney.

FACT
Scientific research is now showing that ultrafine particles, so tiny that they cannot be captured by filtration, are extremely toxic both in their own right and
because they provide a base on which the heavy metal vapour can condense - a double-whammy. They are also a natural by-product of co-incineration and will go
up the chimney.

No rules or regulations imposed on the plant by the Environment Agency are going to stop these pernicious chemicals going directly into the local environment; the
lungs of local residents; and from entering the food chain.

Are we to trust a man who has allowed his plant to continue to pollute the area with dioxins and then make frivolous claims that fly in the face of the best scientific
research available from all over the world?

Come clean Mr Allan, are you putting the commercial interests of Castle Cement above the health of the local community?

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