Health fears lead to air-quality test

Firm is confident it is not source of problems
THE Environment Agency is to monitor air quality around a firm suspected by an environmental group to be the cause of mysterious health issues in Mossley.

However, wood recycling firm R Plevin & Sons is confident the monitoring will prove it is not the cause of the alleged health problems.

The Environment Agency’s investigation comes after members of Mossley Environmental Action Group (MEAG) suspected the company’s operations after several residents living within close proximity became ill with similar symptoms — including nose bleeds and migraines.

A mobile monitoring facility (MMF) has been delivered to Mossley and will be deployed near Miller Hey for three to four months, close to residents who have expressed concerns over air quality.

The high-tech equipment will take continuous air samples and monitor levels of polluting air particles.

Jamie Plevin, the managing director of R Plevin & Sons, which processes and distributes 600,000 tonnes of wood a year, is confident the results will exonerate the firm.

He said: “We have been carrying out our own dust monitoring for seven years, and the Environment Agency has also been doing its own independent monitoring.

“However, this will represent the most sophisticated and detailed analysis to date.

“As a responsible neighbour that supports the local community, we welcome this development. We are confident our operation is not the source of the health problems that have been reported by some residents.”

The MMF machine is believed to be just one of five available to be used in England and Wales by the Environment Agency.