ENVIRONMENT experts have admitted they will be going into "unknown territory" when new clean air equipment is installed at Castle Cement.

Residents were last night given the chance to learn more about the proposed cement kiln scrubber at the Ribblesdale works which burns controversial Cemfuel.

Dave Coulburn, the Environment Agency's pollution control inspector, said independent experts had concluded that the kiln scrubber was an "appropriate technique" and likely to work.

He said that the scrubber was "all in all, a good idea" and would drastically reduce emissions from the kiln. But he admitted: "We have to recognise that this is unknown territory for a cement kiln.

"There will be a lot of investigation and there are a lot of unknowns. I don't know and Castle Cement does not know the exact circumstances in which the scrubber will not be able to operate."

Work on the scrubber will start in February and should be completed within three months. Castle Cement will be asked to produce a detailed report in May to identify the circumstances when the scrubber will not be able to operate.

Residents have until November 21 to respond to the Environment Agency about the proposal.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has called for an urgent debate on planning procedure after the refusal of a public inquiry into Castle Cement's application to open Bellman Quarry.

He said the decision had denied residents of Clitheroe, Chatburn and Worston the right to have their say in a major proposal that would affect the area for the next 30 years.

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