by Iain Jeffrey

Castle Cement has come under fire amid claims that Flintshire Council planning committee had been "duped" into approving a £48 million expansion on the basis it safeguarded 160 jobs.

The industrial giant has found itself at the centre of a new storm over today's allegations that councillors were misled into believing its Padeswood plant near Mold would close if permission was refused for a £48 million waste burning kiln.

An angry councillor is today demanding an investigation after a leaked official letter said the site would continue to operate even if the firm's controversial plans were rejected.

Penyffordd councillor Derek Darlington claims the memo from the firm's lawyers contradicts company bosses' evidence to a crucial planning meeting in February, that jobs were in the balance.

The lawyer's letter states: "If for any reason the planning authority's grant of planning permission is not confirmed .... the existing plant will not be decommissioned and will operate as at present."

Cllr Darlington wants to know if the Flintshire Council officials knew about this, and what effect it will have on a public inquiry investigating whether the proposal should go ahead when it opens later this month.

The Welsh Assembly decided to "call in" the contentious proposals amid a huge public outcry about health concerns due to emissions from burning waste including tyres.

Yesterday Tony Allan, general manager at the Padeswood plant, defended the firm.

"It is plainly obvious any operational plant needs continious investment," he said.

"Without our serious commitment to modernising the plant we cannot hope to be able to stay competitive in an unforgiving market for the long term.

"Furthermore, we are improving our environmental performance with the building of a new klin. This has got to be good news for everyone."

He added: "It is of great concern to the workforce at Padeswood that a senior Labour politician should be so opposed to the security of a factory that has operated successfully for 52 years."

by Iain Jeffrey

Half a dozen prospective Conservative parliamentary candidates have united against the firm's proposed waste-burning kiln and 360ft cooling tower.

They include Flintshire Tories Mark Isherwood and Paul Brierley, as well as Felcity Elphick, the parties candidate for Wrexham.

In England, David Jones, who is contesting the Chester seat, is joined by Wirral candidates Chris Lynch and Tony Millard in opposing the controversial plans.

The Conservatives have recently become much more critical of the proposals currently the subject of a public inquiry in Mold.

They say that the public fears over possible health risks, due to emissions from the new kiln, have not been sufficiently addressed.

"People feel betrayed by their elected representatives in County Hall, Cardiff and Westminster," said Mr Isherwood, who is running for Alyn & Deeside. "We will not let them down."

Mr Ishwerwood said North Wales Health Authority had failed to provide the assurances needed to calm concerns over health issues.

He acknowledged that the Environment Agency could refuse to grant Castle Cement a licence if it thought it was unsafe, and recognised that toxic emissions would be cut by 75% "if the new kiln works as planned".

But he added: "If the systems in the new kiln failed, a toxic timebomb could be released into our delicate organic environment."

"Conservative Party policy states that no new incinerators should be built until they pass the most stringent health tests and provide energy from waste. Call it what you will, the proposed kiln is an incinerator, and meets neither criteria."

CASTLE Cement has said its planned £48 million development at Padeswood is crucial to a radical new environment agreement.

Cement industry leaders have recently signed up to a Government-backed plan aimed at cutting back significantly on carbon dioxide emissions and Castle says the plans to build a new waste-burning kiln at the Padeswood plant are a key part of the industry’s reduction strategy.

An Assembly inspector will decide later this year if the controversial proposals can go ahead after the lengthy public inquiry where opponents argued that the new kiln would increase toxic emissions.  However, the firm has warned that without permission to proceed with the development the environment agreement will founder.

Castle’s fuels manager, Dick Boarder, said: “The new kiln is intrinsic to this agreement.Without it, we would have to re-negotiate.”  The firm says a modernised Padeswood would replace a number of energy-intensive operations elsewhere leading to an overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.  Mr Boarder said: “The highly efficient design of the new
kiln at Padeswood has enabled us to offer very attractive targets to the Government.

“I believe that the full reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is possible and will be confirmed by the inspector leading the inquiry.

“However, in the distressing event of the new kiln being rejected, we would be forced to re-open the negotiations with less favourable targets.”

CASTLE Cement is being challenged to “come clean” about its £48 million plans for Padeswood after it suffered a recent setback in the courts.

The firm, awaiting a public inquiry ruling into its plans for a new waste-burning kiln at its Padeswood plant, has been urged to admit that the proposed development is a “co-incinerator”. There has been intense debate over how to classify the planned kiln and 360-foot cooling tower, as well as Cemfuel, the fuel made of recycled waste which would power the modernised operation. The firm has denied that the new kiln would be a “co-incinerator”, and recently lost a High Court case where it argued that Cemfuel should not be termed a hazardous waste.

But Deeside’s prospective tory candidate Mark Isherwood called on Castle Cement to admit that cement kilns are called co-incinerators under EU classifications. Mr Isherwood accused the company of trying to avoid meeting more stringent limits by having the terminology changed.

“It is understandable that the cement kiln industry is attracted by the prospect of being paid to profit from disposal of waste rather than paying for fuel,” he said. “Will the Padeswood co-incinerator deal with local waste, or will it have to be brought in?”

Mr Isherwood also asked the cement firm to clarify that it was not aiming to import waste into the country from overseas countries whose regulations were tighter. He said: “Can Castle Cement prove that they are not importing hazardous waste to burn in Britain because our laws and the Environment Agency are less strict than those in the country of origin? What volume of toxic waste loads can be expected on our roads?" An Assembly inspector is expected to give a final ruling on the proposals later this year.

By Rob Griffiths

A cement company involved in an on-going dust up with clean air campaigners has been blasted as one of the worst polluters in England & Wales.

Castle Cement, of Padeswood, is named and shamed by the Environment Agency in it's annual report 'Spotlight on Business Environmental Performance for 2000'.

The tables were based on the amount of fines each company has been forced to pay, in addition to fines companies have incurred plus legal and additional costs. Castle Cement in 2000 was forced to pay £46,000 for four prosecutable offences.

A Castle Cement spokesman said: "Naturally we are disappointed that we are listed as a poor performer in this year's Spotlight on business environmental performance, particularly as we were highlighted as a good performer in the 1999 Report.

"Our recently published environmental review highlights the improvements we have made over the last few years, including our certification to ISO 14001 the environmental management system standard at all our three production sites.

"Our environmental review also underlines our commitment to continual environmental improvement throught the demanding targets we have set ourselves for 2002."

Campaigners have fought hard against a proposed new kiln at the Castle Cement site in Padeswood. The Welsh Assembly has held a planning inquiry into the plans, which is due to report soon.

Campaigners are concerned the the new kiln could be hazardous to Padeswood residents' health and that emissions from the kiln may cause cancer.

By Erin McGrath

Chester residents on the Welsh border are breathing sighs of relief over a decision to put plans for a 52,000 tonne incinerator on ice.

It has been announced the National Assembly will be stepping in to look at proposals for the waste recovery centre, which will burn up to 50,000 tonnes of domestic rubbish each year.

The Assembly stated Wrexham Council was told the plans were being called in because company HLC Wrexham's proposals had stirred concerns beyond the local area.

Late last month, Chester residents, worried about possible damaging health effects from pollution blown over the border, applauded a petition signed by 13,000 Wrexham residents.

The petition was one of the biggest ever put together by the people of Wrexham and was presented to the National Assembly in the hopes of stopping the project.

At that time Chester City and Malpas Councillor Eveleigh Moore Dutton said Chester residents had grave concerns.

Cllr Dutton, who has long been vocal in her opposition to he plan, said National Assembly members would be 'foolish' to ignore the petition.

"It will be very interesting to see democracy at work. Members need to take notice of concerns across the border," she said.

"We are not blindly saying a waste treatment plan shouldn't go ahead, but that it needs to be decided at the right level, with the right level of expertise.

"Basically, it needs to be taken out of the hands of politicians and put into the hands of experts.

"It would be extremely foolish for politicians not to listen to the people - and to do so would be arrogance of the highest order."

Cheshire MP Stephen O'Brien said the public inquiry was great news for residents on boths sides of the border.

"If there is a public inquiry, it will be the opportunity for all the issues to be considered and objections heard from those people affected by this application," he said.

Mr O'Brien said the site was about 300 yds from the border, but prevailing winds would take any emissions over primary dairy farming land.

Work on a multi-million pound cement factory kiln is on schedule.

Bosses at Castle Cement in Padeswood say the £54 million Kiln 4 will be opened during the first quarter of 2005.

The project is aimed at providing North Wales with the most modern, efficient cement making process in Europe.

Production director Tony Allan said: "The new conditioning and pre-heater tower, which is now being constructed and will ensure dust does not escape into the atmosphere, will help to contribute to a 75% reduction in emissions.

"This is excellent news for everyone striving to work towards a cleaner environment for North wales. This new process will be like nothing seen before and I and my collegies are very proud that we have been able to bring these environmental improvements to the area whilst safeguarding hundreds of local jobs with the development of this project."

Mr Allen said the new process will cut back drastically  on emissions while making a substantial contribution to meeting wales' strategies for the environment and waste.

"We are working diligently to help the environment."

See the other side - read CANK member Arnold Woolley's reaction in his letter to the Evening Leader
See CANK Comment
 
 

13th March 2005

by Ben Greenwood

Castle Cement has been forced to close one of it's kilns at Padeswood after too many toxic chemicals seeped inot the atmosphere.

The company stopped kiln three from operating after the Environment Agency Wales served an enforcement notice for breach of dioxin emission levels.

Dioxins are toxic chemical by-products and their strict limits are set as part of the installation under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations.

Today it remains unclear how Castle Cement has exceeded the guidlines but both the Agency and company are monitoring  the situation.

The investigation is lasting for two weeks. The full health effects will only be known after that.

The kiln was due to close down on March 28th as the new multi-million pound kiln four prepares to fire up.

Steve Moore, the Agency's area manager for North Wales said: "The Agency takes seriously all breaches of emission limits and we have no hesitation in taking enforcement action against companies to ensure they operate within the conditions of their permit.

"Our investigations are continuing and we have not ruled out further enforcement action.

"Our priority remains ensuring real or potential threats to the environment and human health are understood and actively managed."

The Agency's actions was supported by those concerned about the pollution from the site.

Arnold Woolley, county councillor for Buckley Bistre East and chairman of  the Campaign Against the New Kiln (CANK) said: " I would welcome any action the Agency takes which improves the environment quality.

"I fully back them but I do believe this is a decision which is long overdue."

Saltney councillor Klaus Armstrong Braun, a member of Flintshire Green party, said: " I find it shocking Castle Cement has breached it's limits. It is worrying for people and their health. But I fully support the Agency putting it's foot down."

Danny Coulston, general manager of Castle Cement's Padeswood works, said: "The results of some emission data recently reported to the Environment Agency on kiln three are higher than the measurements the Agency had taken themselves last year.

"Because of these high results, we have voluntarily suspended operations on kiln three until a retest is carried out and results are verified. The retest will be carried out shortly."

He said kiln four, which will replace the three previous kilns at the site, would be operational in the next few months.

The new kiln will reduce emissions while increasing production.

Leader Note: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tests show chronic exposure of animals to dioxins resulted in several types of cancer.
And the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classed dioxin as a 'known human carcinogen".
However, dioxins do not affect genetic material and there is a level of exposure below which cancer risk would be negligible.
Long-term exposure is linked to impairment of people's immune system.
Short-term exposure to high levels may cause skin lesions.

WHAT ON EARTH COULD HAVE HAPPENED!!

Taking aspects of the Leader article:
The investigation is lasting for two weeks. The full health effects will only be known after that.
The effects from dioxin pollution is likely only to manifest themselves after decades

"Our investigations are continuing and we have not ruled out further enforcement action." (Steve Moore - EA Area Manager - see also EA Press Release)
"we have voluntarily suspended operations on kiln three" (Danny Coulston - General Manager Castle Padeswood)
BOTH THESE STATEMENTS CAN'T BE TRUE and do nothing to foster trust between the authorities responsible for our welfare; the company; and the population - something we have continually emphasised as critical if the fears of the local community are to be laid to rest.

The new kiln will reduce emissions while increasing production.
We understand that, whilst some pollutants should reduce, others, most notably ultra-fine particulates and some heavy metals, will increase. The science of ultra-fine particulates (so small they are invisible to the naked eye) is relatively new, but initial indications are that they could be toxic in their own right as well as acting as a vehicle for molecules of other pollutants, including heavy metals, which also have their own toxic side effects.

 dioxins do not affect genetic material and there is a level of exposure below which cancer risk would be negligible.
There is much on this site to support the view that dioxins are one of the most toxic substances known to man; bio-accumulate in body fats and for which there is NO SAFE THRESHOLD

Other Link
EA Notice re Castle Suspension
You may have to click on 'skip to page content' at the top of the EA page you are taken to in order to see the article.