CAMPAIGNERS are to fight on despite losing lost their legal battle to prevent Castle Cement in Clitheroe from burning Cemfuel.

Rachel Sellers and Judith Petty, neighbours from Quarry Farm Court in Chatburn, were among four people who challenged the Environment Agency's decision to authorise the burning of substitute liquid fuels, including Cemfuel, at Castle Cement's Clitheroe plant and other industrial sites in County Durham and Nottinghamshire.

They were concerned about the effects of fumes on the health of children and adults.

But High Court judge Mr Justice Harrison dismissed the judicial review challenges and said demands for the agency to carry out rigorous environmental assessments before allowing the use of the fuel at individual sites were not "reasonable or realistic."

He also found that, except for one "technical" breach of regulations, the agency had carried out adequate assessments of the impact of the fuel on the environment and the amenity of local residents. The residents were represented by Phil Shiner, of Tyndalwoods Solicitors in Birmingham, who said the fight was not over.

He said: "Obviously my clients are disappointed not to have won their cases.

"However, the court has agreed with them on a number of points.

"All these plants will have to be assessed every four years and we will be making it clear that the best environmental option is the use of coal, not secondary liquid fuels. The fight is not over."

Ian Haskell, regional process industries manager for the Environment Agency, said he was "very pleased" with the ruling.

"The judge has ruled comprehensively that we acted properly and lawfully in allowing secondary liquid fuels to be burned in Clitheroe and Durham. We have been fully vindicated," he said.

A Castle spokesman in Clitheroe said the firm would study the ruling in full before commenting.

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