Shropshire Star

Investigation launched into emissions from Chirk factory after schoolchildren forced to play indoors

Environmental health chiefs have launched an investigation into emissions from a factory after pupils were forced to stay inside during playtime over safety concerns.

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Wrexham Council say environmental health officers have launched the investigation, supported by Natural Resources Wales, after

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The company has apologised and said the emissions were "not acceptable", but has insisted that they were not harmful.

Gill Stevens, Wrexham Council spokeswoman, said: "Wrexham environmental health officers are currently investigating an incident reported in Chirk which led to a decision to bring school children inside during the last 10 minutes of the lunchtime break.

"This was associated with plume grounding and poor dispersion of emissions from the Kronospan factory.

"Weather conditions including high humidity and a fairly strong, swirling north-westerly wind was affecting the dispersion of emissions from the factory."

Paul Wright, industry regulation team leader at Natural Resources Wales, said: "We regulate sites like this in order to reduce the impact of pollution on people and the environment.

"This part of the Kronospan plant is regulated by the local authority.

"We are working with Wrexham County Borough Council who are leading on this investigation."

The seven-year-old son of Chirk Town Councillor Mark Roberts, Harry, was among the pupils unable to play outside.

Councillor Roberts said: "It's extremely worrying when your children can't even play outside because of it, and what also concerns me is what are our children breathing in?

"It's bad enough that we're all breathing this stuff in but it's more worrying when it's our children too."

Kronospan chairman Mike McKenna apologised for "causing concern" and said work was being carried out to remedy the issue.

He said: "There was no incident but the routine operation of our board production abatement system currently results in low level discharge of cleaned process gases.

"On occasions, as a result of unusual climatic conditions, the emission grounds.

"Even though the emission is not harmful, it is not acceptable and as previously explained we are in the process of ducting the process gas to a higher level to get better dispersion and resolve the issue."

This process is due to be completed by the end of this month.

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