Shropshire border factory chief in hot water over fumes
Angry residents have criticised a company on the Shropshire border for not tackling the problem of dust emissions from its factory quickly enough.
More than 60 people attended Chirk Parish Hall for a public meeting over the fumes from the town's Kronospan factory.
In comments directed at Kronospan chairman Mike McKenna, Chirk resident John Maddocks accused the company of failing the town's residents by not addressing the issue of the dust which is emitted from the factory, or potential pollutants.
"You are failing in your duty of care to the public," said Mr Maddocks.
The meeting was told of residents who have found a thick layer of dust on their cars, as well as a smell from the factory.
Mr McKenna said equipment is being installed to prevent the dust escaping, while a representative of Wrexham Council said they are planning to monitor the emissions from the site to check if they pose a risk to public health.
The last monitoring at the site took place in 2004 and found no issues.
Mr McKenna said that planned improvements to the factory, including the introduction of silos to house material emitting dust, would address the problem by September.
"Hopefully that work to upgrade the factory will be complete by the end of summer. The dust flow problems you get from the log yard will be a thing of the past."
Mr McKenna also apologised for the company's failure to address an issue which previous employees had said would be solved as far back as 1998.
"I am aware of the fact that someone said back in 1998 that we would build silos. I am sorry, it was not in my control to deliver those silos at the time. I am chairman now and the silos are going up and it is a larger scheme than was promised originally. It will take almost all material away from the open air so it can't blow away."
Councillor Brian Colley said he did not believe Kronospan had been listening to the concerns of residents.
"Why don't you take the complaints from the residents of Chirk seriously?" he asked.
Issues were also raised about late night noise at the factory.
Progress on the issues will be assessed at a liaison meeting on June 28.
