A FORMER welder at Westbury Cement Works has spoken of his shock at the 'concrete cancer' scandal engulfing the Lafarge-owned plant.

Albert Rowland, 86, of Oldfield Road, Westbury, worked at the factory for 20 years until 1983 and was a trade union shop steward.

He disputes Lafarge's claim that 'rogue employees' were responsible for misreporting alkali levels in cement between September 2002 and December 2004. The excess alkali could lead to expansion and cracking in concrete structures made from it.

Mr Rowland said: "As an ex-employee of Blue Circle Cement, I, like many of my retired colleagues were truly shocked at the revelations of dodgy cement being produced at Westbury Cement Works.

"Certainly, this would have never happened in the Blue Circle days. Blaming rogue staff is nonsense for falsifying data.

"The fine detail in cement making is so complex you don't study it until you reach university level. How was it that these rogue staff could have deceived two independent bodies? The Casella CRE testing and Lloyds Register, both are responsible for quality assurance.

"I myself have seen architects' drawings specifying cement from Westbury works shall be used. In the future, what architect is going to specify Westbury works cement?"

Colin Little, of Newtown, Westbury, also contacted the Wiltshire Times condemning Lafarge's actions.

He said: "So Lafarge employs rogues at their Westbury cement plant, who falsify results. And nobody in higher management notices for two years. How remarkable. Does that sound as if the management is up to the job? Or could it be that the real rogues are higher up in the business than is admitted? Time for a few resignations, maybe?"

In an email to concerned residents Lafarge Cement UK communications manager Alistair Gale said: "This is an incident that we deeply regret.

"Firstly I should like to reassure you that a detailed investigation has been undertaken into the matter by senior executives of Lafarge Cement UK."

Mr Gale said Lafarge had enhanced testing, reporting and cross-checking procedures and verified emissions data for the affected period was accurately reported. The firm is working with customers to assess which structures "might need closer scrutiny than usual".

Mr Gale said: "The people involved no longer work for Lafarge; it would not be appropriate for us to comment on individuals and we shall not be doing so. We cannot speculate on what might have motivated them to do what they did."

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