Yes, CANK is still here and very much alive and kicking!. Forgive the inordinate delay in updates but much has been happening:

CANK Health Survey
'When Industry, Public Servants and Local Authorities appear to be arguing that residents do not need to know more about something which has been of intense public interest for the last few years, you can be forgiven for imagining they have something to hide.'

To date, a little over 30% of households have responded and the data is being collated prior to going for expert interpretation.

The response we have had already is magnificent and sufficent to produce a meaningful conclusion. However, additional replies will only further strengthen any conclusions the experts draw.

This survey follows repeated requests for a Baseline Health Survey of the area being ignored by the authorities. After much vacilating, it is gratifying to see that the Environment Agency have now made a commitment to obtaining a baseline health study as part of their assessment (see Chronicle story below)

We will keep you appraised of the results.

See Also
    Newspaper Report
        The Chester Chronicle (Front Page January 24th)
        1,420 homes in health survey - kiln protest group's delight at response
       'If this kind of survey had been carried out much earlier by the authorities, it would have avoided the cost of an expensive public inquiry and the upset to people living in the area.'
           However:Doubts about the independance of SAHSU (Small Area Health Statistics Unit), to be employed by the EA to carry out a proposed baseline health study

IPPC Liason Meeting
Discussions continue, particularly with regard to the Critical Success Factors that will define the effectiveness of the committee.
On a positive note, Castle report that following installation and trial of a quenching system for the exhaust gases from the existing kilns, dioxin production has dropped to 0.26ng/m3 (average for 12 months - 0.49ng/m3). This compares very favourably with the 2.10ng/m3 for the previous year and the 0.1ng/m3 EU limit is being approached.
Such a shame that this remediation could not have been implemented years ago, and automatically, by the company when they realised their dioxin levels were huge, and without the  public outcry and concerns of the past few years. Such a step would have done much to build the credibility the company now so desperately needs.

A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO INCINERATION
        Dr Paul Connett (Professor of Chemistry at St Lawrence University in New York)
        Video:
        Zero Waste: Nova Scotia moving from the Vision to the Reality
           How one Canadian island of a million people has decided to recover as much waste as possible and the realities of the huge success they have achieved.
          A MUST SEE
       An excellent short paper accompanied by an outstanding 30 min video: Nova Scotia: Community Responsibility in Action
          With Paul Connett's kind permission, CANK will provide both free of charge - simply mail us at connettvideo@cank.org.uk with your address.
          Remember, your TV will need to use the UK PAL format to view the video.
          For those with the US NTSC format, please specify and we will endeavour to obtain a suitable copy.

Reports
Health Vacuum in IPPC Guidance(ENDS 320 - September 2001)
    Although a year old, still highly relevant:
    'the health authorities have an undistinguished track record of engaging with environmental matters.'

    'The Agency's lack of competance on environmental health issues has become an increasingly prominant weakness. The regulator has shied away
    from debate on health impacts in contentious cases concerning incinerators and cement kilns.'

News
    Reports
    Dioxins in Babies at 85 times Safety Limit (Independant 17th November 2002)
    'The Government has to decide whether it is going to put the interests of its friends in industry or the health of babies first'
    (Mike Childs, Senior Campaigner, Friends of the Earth)

    New View of Waste The Chester Mail (20th November 2002)
    Announcement of a comprehensive strategy being implemented by the local authorities in Cheshire to minimise waste and drastically increase recycling

    Paris
    CNIID (21st January, 2003)
    Waste Incinerators provoke the birth of deformed babies
    '"high and significant risk (...) for facial clefts, renal dysplasia, and megacolon".

    Plaid Cymru
    Protesters win incinerator fight
    Councillors reject the plan for a municipal waste incinerator for Wrexham after a huge public outcry. The matter, however, is to be the subject of a Public Inquiry
    next year, so the matter will be decided by the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff

    CANK Comment
    So Mr Burnett, Project Manager of HLC Wrexham believes that, in spite of Wrexham people not wanting his incinerator and Wrexham councillors now refusing to support it,
    the plant will go ahead anyway.
    What does that say of his and his company's concern for the wishes and fears of the community in which they hope to operate.
    Or perhaps he is voicing what he knows already, that the communities opinions carry little weight?!

31st May 2004
News
    Report
    Factory kiln work 'is on schedule' (Flintshire Evening Leader)
        "The new conditioning and pre-heating tower will ensure dust does not escape into the atmosphere"  Tony Allan - Castle Production Director

        Reaction from informed CANK member - Cllr Arnold Woolley
            The company (Castle) seeks to:
                "Move the emissions limit upward for Total Organic Compounds, which are comprised of Volatile Organic Compounds, which, in general are not good news for people
                            or the environment"

CANK Comment
It would seem Mr Allan continues to treat the local population with indifference.
That would be consistant  with his time as General Manager of the Padeswood plant when he presided over the worst dioxin polluting cement facility in the country and  saw it rise from 11th to 7th  worst overall UK dioxin polluter during his tenure.

Letter
    To CANK from Cleanaway's Plant Manager, Technical Waste Incineration Plant in Ellesmere Port
       ' In effect, the cement kiln will function as a co-incinerator, but be allowed to operate at lower specifications and standards than purpose-built incinerators.'
        'Cement kilns not being required to undergo the thorough environmental impact assessments ......as is required for purpose-built High-Temperature incinerators.'

    We would urge you to read this excellent letter which encapsulates many of CANKs serious concerns.

   See Also: Cement kiln row re-ignites as substitute fuels set for rapid growth (ENDS Report 2004)

News
    Friends of the Earth Press Release
    Tyre Burning Trial Halted After Emissions Alert
    Environmental campaigners today called for a full public inquiry into a controversial tyre-burning experiment which was suspended after it flouted emission regulations.
    Rugby Cement continues to burn tyres after a failure in a dust collection unit until ordered by the EA to stop."this is specifically forbidden by our permit conditions" (EA spokesman)

CANK Note: In Rugby, there is serious concern in both in the Local Council and in the Primary Care Trust about the health implications of what is being burned in their kiln.

E-Mails from:
    Phil - construction worker with Castle Cement
                    "i would like to thank castle cement for it's courageous decision to expand its plant"
    Eric Black, Rhyl South West Central Residents Association.
                    "I have known this area all my life and it (the kiln)  is the most horrendous monstrosity i have ever seen"
                    "Even if that is not bad enough this will have emissions when in use and cannot be anything but dangerous with the
                      most populated region of North Wales in its potential radius."
    Christopher Strangeways, Rother Environmental Group
                    "Heidelberg Cement own and operate a solvent re-processing facility (SRM ltd) in Rye that produces Cemfuel and ProFuel
                      we are always interested to be kept informed of your concerns."

For more information, like to add your own views, or if you have any further web links you would like us to include,  please email us at: feedback@cank.org.uk .