PROTESTERS have criticised the decision of the Environment Agency to lift a ban on the burning of Cemfuel.

And Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has demanded that Castle Cement stop "hiding behind the cloak of confidentiality" and state once and for all what is in the controversial fuel.

Clean air campaigners said they were 'not surprised' by the lifting of the ban, and claimed that protecting the public was 'very low' on the Environment Agency's list of priorities.

Protester Georgia Gill, asked: "Has the agency carried out a risk assessment? Where is the detailed information outlining the possible effects of burning this fuel? Are we now going to get the toxicological data for each load?"

Castle Cement was told to stop burning Cemfuel more than two weeks ago because the Environment Agency was unhappy with the way it was being stored and analysed at the firm's Ribblesdale works.

Now, every batch of the fuel will be sampled by Castle Cement staff on arrival at the plant and random analysis undertaken by independent third parties.

Mr Evans said: "The people of Clitheroe want to know that Cemfuel is as safe. It's about time that Castle Cement came clean and said what was in the fuel. It should not be allowed to hide behind commercial confidentiality."

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