MP seeks Reassurance on Local Oil Refinery

1.14.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 26th Feb 2007

Vincent Cable MP visited Arlington oil recycling works in St Margaret's on Friday to discuss with Managing Director, Dawn Roads, issues raised by local residents: large lorries manoeuvring through the local streets to the plant and periodic smells which have caused some worry locally.

Vincent Cable said, after the visit, that he was "considerably reassured on the safety issues. There is little doubt that there has been a good safety history and Ms Roads and her small staff are very conscious of the need to protect residents and workers on the site. The plant is essentially a recycling unit which separates out water and other impurities from waste fuel oil so that it can be reused. Sometimes the impurities in the waste fuel emerge as gases which smell and this has caused periodic alarm around the plant.

"The traffic problems caused by large fuel lorries manoeuvring through a residential area are more serious but I have been assured that, with cooperation from the Council, it has been possible to secure a more suitable parking lay out."