East Lothian Courier | News | Don’t believe a word of it, parents told

Monday, 12th May, 2008

Published: Thursday, 27th March, 2008 12:00

Don’t believe a word of it, parents told

BOSSES at Lafarge cement works near Dunbar have categorically denied claims that animal body parts were being incinerated on site.

The shock allegations are contained in leaflets that have been distributed to parents of children attending the town’s secondary and primary schools.

But after the matter was brought to the attention of plant bosses by the Courier, they’ve been quick to reassure parents and residents that the claims are completely unfounded.

Referring to Lafarge, which employs 150 people at Dunbar, the leaflet claims: “This company gets paid to incinerate 43,000 tonnes of chemical solvent plus laboratory body parts, biological waste, and drugs and thousands and thousands of tonnes of rubber tyres.”

Local environmental activist, David Swann, admitted that he was behind the production and distribution of more than 100 copies of the leaflet, which also attacks Viridor Waste Management’s proposals for a giant incinerator plant at nearby Oxwellmains landfill site.

Mr Swann, 56, of Summerfield Road, Dunbar, handed the leaflets to mums and dads waiting to collect their children outside the gates of Dunbar Primary and Dunbar Grammar Schools.

He claims he has “evidence” that the bodies of laboratory animals such as dogs, cats, monkeys and rabbits were being brought to Lafarge from research centres in Midlothian for incineration in the company’s giant kiln.

Asked why he had targeted local schools with his leaflets, he replied: “Everyone, including children, has a right to know what is happening to their local environment.”

Lafarge’s Dunbar works manager, David Chrystall, said: “We are very surprised and taken aback by the claims contained in this this flyer. The information is very inaccurate – for example, Dunbar works has never used and has no plans to use laboratory body parts, biological waste and drugs for the cement-making process.

“Under strict regulation from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), we have a permit to use chipped used tyres and recycled liquid fuels to provide energy for our process.

“The use of these fuels is proven in the UK and Europe and means the plant can reduce its use of finite fossil fuels and recover the energy from waste materials, which would otherwise have to be disposed of or sent to landfill. The use of these fuels also provide a check against rapidly escalating energy costs, helping us to stay competitive and maintain our operations, which employ over 150 people and contributes over £10 million to the local area each year.”

He added: “I can also reassure local people that regular monitoring undertaken around the site by independent bodies shows Dunbar’s environment is consistent with any semi-rural area.”

Lafarge has confirmed that it won’t be taking legal action over the leaflet’s publication.

An East Lothian Council spokesman said the authority would not be taking any action over the leaflet’s distribution, as it occurred off school property.

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