POLLUTION watchdogs have ordered Castle Cement to come up with answers to the problem of plume grounding within weeks.

But a final report on the burning of controversial Cemfuel has said it can continue to be burned at the Ribblesdale works, despite opposition from local residents.

And furious Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans today called for the burning of the waste solvent fuel to be suspended until the plume grounding problem - where plumes of smoke fall to the ground from chimneys - is sorted out.

"The Department of the Environment told me in December that they would not make a decision on the permanent authorisation of Cemfuel until the plume grounding problem had been resolved," said Mr Evans.

"But in this report there is no indication of how long this authority will last. To my mind this is permanent authorisation by the back door.

"Many of my constituents report adverse health effects when this fuel is burned and it should be suspended until plume grounding is sorted out."

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution has set an April 30 deadline for bosses at the plant to submit "firm proposals" on how it will tackle the problem of plume grounding. The move comes after HMIP was advised that the health of Ribble Valley residents could be affected by plume grounding - whether or not the controversial Cemfuel or coal is being burned at the Clitheroe factory.

Irritation to eyes and respiratory problems are the potential health risks identified.

In a variation notice, the firm is also required to "investigate all complaints about plume grounding promptly."

It will also have to install more monitoring equipment and make sure the kilns are operated to ensure minimum releases.

Castle Cement's works manager Peter del Strother said: "We accept that there is still work to do to overcome the plume problem and we will keep the community closely informed as we progress.

"It is not a simple issue. If it were we would have resolved it a long time ago because there has been no shortage of resources applied to it.

"We have stressed throughout that Cemfuel poses no threat to health or to the environment and this final clearance would not have been given if there were the least doubt in the minds of the regulators."

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