From:
Chester Chronicle, Mold & Buckley Edition, January 28 2000
 

Copy of a letter sent to Flintshire planning director Richard Jarvis and Welsh Assembly Environment Secretary Peter Law
from John Cowley, Head of Business Operations, M & S Financial Services

It has been brought to our attention that Castle Cement has applied for planning permission to build a new cement kiln at Padeswood.

Apart from the eyesore of an extremely tall chimney, we understand the kiln will burn toxic waste as fuel.

MSFS has been on the Chester Business Park for the last 13 years and takes an active interest in the environment in which our staff work.

On behalf of MSFS I urge Flintshire County Council to reject this proposal as not serving the best interest of Flintshire or it's surrounding area.

There are a number of factors which we believe strongly support this rejection.

• Burning toxic waste, even under optimum conditions, will release toxic dust which will pollute a wide area and pose a threat to health. This is not only relevant to our site on the business park but also the wider area where the bulk of our staff and their families live.

• The Environment Agency has no responsibility for protecting public health so the planning authority ought to take the risk to public health and amenity into account.

• When evaluating that risk one cannot assume optimum conditions. The planning authority has to be sure emissions can be rendered harmless if there is an accident.

• Castle Cement has had 255 unauthorised emissions at the existing plant since 1996 so there are doubts about it's ability to operate the proposed plant safely.

• The toxic-waste fuel will be brought in by road tanker. It is highly hazardous and represents a danger on it's own. The residue of toxic dust filtered out at the plant will be taken away by road to be dumped. This extra traffic will also adversly affect road safety.

We have a strong desire to expand in the North West, as near as possible to our existing site. This development by Castle Cement would impact any decisions we make about potential sites in Flintshire.

I trust you will note our concerns and act in rejecting the Castle Cement proposals.