CAMPAIGNERS will march on Westbury's cement works tomorrow to protest against plans to burn recycled liquid fuel in its kilns.
The march has been organised by residents in Edington who hope to mobilise support from across the Westbury area. Protesters will gather in Westbury Market Place at 2pm before walking the
one-mile route to the Lafarge works just outside the town.
Lafarge has applied to burn the fuel, which is made from non-recoverable materials used in making products such as screen wash, paint and printing ink, for a six-month trial.
The Environment Agency is due to announce its verdict on the proposal by next Friday and march organisers fear it may be given the green light.
Richard Baxter, spokesman for pressure group Air That We Breathe, said: "People are angry and frustrated Lafarge's plans have received no opposition from the Environment Agency, the Primary Care Trust or the Health Protection Agency, despite the huge amount of evidence that burning toxic waste kills people."
Campaigners say the proposed trials will only test for three pollutants out of over 200 that burning RLF will precipitate.
They fear that burning such a mix of products could also release unknown compounds into the atmosphere, which safety measures will not be able to deal with.
Despite the protesters'
concerns Lafarge insists
burning RLF has environmental benefits and is not harmful.
Speaking last month Westbury works manager John Collinson said: "We have always maintained recycled liquid fuel is a safe, proven fuel."
But Mr Baxter said: "If we don't know what is going in, how can we monitor what is coming out? Instead the local population will be expected to breathe in carcinogenic particulates, which permanently damage our children's lungs and cause cancer.
"This issue could not be more serious or life threatening and we urge everybody to show their opposition to these trials on Saturday."
Seasoned campaigner David Levy plans to hold a meeting either at the start or finish of tomorrow's walk.
He said: "This march has been organised by the people of Edington. They are being put at risk and they are not very happy and want to show that.
"We just hope that people from Westbury support it as well.
"There are an awful lot of mothers out there who are worried about their children's health."
Last week Lafarge announced the completion of a £1m investment programme into the site, which involved a number of local contractors.
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