EMISSIONS from an Astley tip are to be analysed because nearby residents are concerned dangerous gases are being released.

Cllr John Lea says he will get Environmental Health and the Environment Agency to carry out an analysis on the emissions being released from the Whitehead Tip.

But owners of the tip, Viridor Waste Management say residents have no reason to be concerned as their equipment is state of the art and exceeds all the current safety legislation and guidelines.

No evidence

Cllr Lea said: "There is no evidence to suggest that anything dangerous is being released but I am getting the analysis done because of villager's concerns."

About 30 worried Astley village residents gathered at a meeting at the village's Old Boathouse Pub to discuss their fears about the tip emissions.

And a leaflet has even been circulating around the village.

Pub landlord and chairman of the Astley Residents Association Harry Worthington said: "Basically, we are not happy with a stack that's been installed to burn materials from the tip.

"Everybody who lives in the village is concerned. We've got all sorts of information off the internet but we're not experts and we don't know what's going up in the air around us.

"This stack should not have been put up where it is. It should be at another part of the tip because it's about 500 metres away from the village."

A spokesman for Viridor Waste Management, said the stack was a state of the art flare stack that definitely did not release any dangerous emissions.

He said the flare stack was burning off methane gas produced by the landfill and was actually controlling what was being released into the atmosphere.

He added that it was the standard practise at similar sites across the UK and that they were happy for an analysis to be carried out.

A liaison group meeting from Viridor has also been set up to discuss the development with representatives from the local Community.