COUNTY councillors were today on a fact-finding mission to Castle Cement's Clitheroe works in a bid to resolve a dispute over the controversial Cemfuel.

The site visit was arranged to help councillors make a decision on legal action after residents claimed Castle should have applied for planning permission to burn the fuel.

A representative body of protestors were being given a chance to air their views on the issue during a special meeting in the Ribble Valley Council chamber after the visit.

They also argue a county decision not to press the firm to apply for planning permission is legally flawed and have hired solicitors to challenge it in the High Court

County council chiefs argue that Cemfuel is not a planning issue and are ready to take on the residents in the courts. Members of the Development Control sub-committee plan to use information gained from the visit to make a decision on challenging the residents in the High Court.

The meeting in Ribble Valley Council chambers was open to the general public but only as observers. A select group were able to make known their protests.

Councillors will make a final decision at the county council's development control committee on June 4.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.