SERIOUS concerns about the use of the landfill tip at Astley Green for disposal of animal carcasses slaughtered to prevent the spread of foot and mouth have been raised by Wigan Council.

A formal request has been made to the government's Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions to reconsider its decision to order the use of the site which straddles the boroughs of Wigan and Salford.

Borough director of legal services Susan Lowe has asked the DETR to reconsider because of several concerns. The authority feels waste should be dealt with as close to where it is produced as possible and is concerned that there are several farms in the immediate vicinity of the Whitehead landfill site.

Reassurance is sought on steps being taken to minimise the risk of foot and mouth infection.

The problem of flies has been raised and the council wants assurances it can be operated without environmental problems and public health nuisance.

Council Leader Lord Peter Smith said: "We fully understand there is a national emergency and the government has a duty to introduce urgent measures to resolve the crisis. Local authorities and residents must be satisfied their very real environmental fears are being properly addressed. We would much prefer this particular site not to be used but the DETR has the power to order these disposals.

"People have a right to be reassured that there is no danger to public health."

The council has been advised by the Environment Agency that carcasses will be restricted to no more than five per cent of the total daily waste tipped at Astley.

The DTER insists it would be carried out in accordance with a best practice protocol which requires carcasses to be properly buried and any leachate retained within the landfill site for 40 days. If this is done it says the risk from the live virus is 'negligible'.