CASTLE Cement has backing from Lancashire County Council to install new cement processing equipment.

Bosses claim the new clinker conveying system and extended clinker store at the Ribblesdale works will reduce dust emissions.

The council's development control sub-committee agreed the plans yesterday.

Castle Cement will now have to seek permission and authorisation from the Environment Agency and Ribble Valley Borough Council.

A report to the committee, said: "The new conveying system would incorporate a number of measures to reduce dust emissions and such improvements would be of general benefit in helping to reduce air emissions from the site."

The work is part of an overall plan to demolish the two older wet kilns and increase production on the more efficient dry process kiln.

The report said a new conveyor would be installed from the kiln to the clinker storage silo.

The new conveyor would be more visible than the current one which runs at ground level before going up the side of a clinker silo.

Earlier this month, Castle Cement bosses applied for permission to re-start the burning of controversial Cemfuel -- claiming it is environmentally beneficial.

The decision by the Environment Agency could take up to four months.

Ribble Valley Friends of the Earth representative David Mortimer and protester Mary Horner declined to comment.