WESTBURY cement works has been told to clean up its act so people living nearby can breathe less polluted air.
The Environment Agency has given Lafarge cement a new permit to carry on burning tyres at the site in Westbury, but has said emissions of noxious gases from the giant chimney must come down.
The number of particles suspended in emissions must be reduced by more than half, while emissions of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides must drop by more than 20 per cent.
The new regulations are part of the European Integral Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regime.
Lafarge says it needs time to read the new regulations but can clean up what comes out of the chimney.
Westbury works manager John Collinson said: "On initial assessment we expect to be able to operate to the new conditions with immediate effect."
Environmental groups say tyre burning pollutes the atmosphere, and could be a danger to health.
David Levy, from The Air That We Breathe Group, said: "Who knows what nasty toxic compounds have been falling over our environment from this plant."
Colin Babb, regulatory officer for the Environment Agency, said: "The Agency looks forward to a continued reduction in the impact of the works on the environment."
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