Give us some figures.

Byline: A W Furse, Mold

THE Terrig Valley Environmental Trust charity concerns itself with the health of the local population and opposed the development of a new high temperature kiln at the local cement works at Padeswood.

On Friday Castle Cement were sentenced to fines totalling pounds 99,000 for emitting dioxins over a nine-month period (totalling 38% of the permitted total for Britain for a 12 month period).

The most fascinating statements from the two-hour trial were those of the "area" - probably air quality assessment unit - which said that the impact from these emissions in the most exposed local population was not considered to be serious and this was backed up by the Flintshire Local Health Board.

Michael Meacher, when a minister in Blair's government, stated "There are no safe doses of dioxins."

Does the Environment Agency sets maximum limits for annual dioxin emissions from the Padeswood works? If so, what were they, and by how much did emissions exceed those limits? It is outrageous that organisations responsible for public health should make such a flippant response. The air quality assessment unit and the Flintshire Local Health Board should tell us what doses of dioxins aren't dangerous.

A W Furse, Mold

CAPTION(S):

Castle Cement's new kiln tower