Rugby Cement seeks to restart tyre burning

By Patrick Raleigh, ERJ On-line news editor

London-The UK Environment Agency (EA) is considering a submission from Rugby Cement Ltd following an accident that led the agency to halt a tyre burning trial at the firm's Lawford Road site in Rugby. The incident caused the plant to exceed permitted emission levels for about three hours on 21 June.

Rugby Cement will be allowed to restart the tyre trial if the reasons for the accident are “satisfactorily explained,” in its submission, said a 6 Aug EA statement. The firm, it added, must also prove that the incident was not caused by burning tyres as a fuel and identify actions to prevent future such accidents.

“We have begun the process of carefully considering the company's responses. There is no set timescale for a decision but we will inform all parties when it is made,” said Dr David Hudson, area environment manager, in the EA statement.

“Clearly this incident has worried local residents. We will not allow the trial to restart unless we are fully satisfied that the company's responses will mean that the tyre trial will not impact on the environment or human health,” added Hudson.