COUNCIL officials want a meeting with operators of Maw Green landfill, in Crewe, and MAFF to clarify proposals to dump uninfected animal carcasses there.

The move comes after protesters slammed MAFF for its secretive attitude over the proposed selection of Maw Green as a dumping ground.

The decision to start using the site has not yet been taken by MAFF but Ray Palin, chair of Maw Green Residents' Association, said there are many questions unanswered.

Mr Palin, who is also on the Maw Green Landfill Liaison Committee, said: "We are not happy with the situation, I feel we should have been informed.

Mr Palin held a symbolic protest outside the tip on Thursday and added: "We could do with a few questions answered.

"Is it going to cause damage to the environment and the wildlife in the area?

"Are the wagons going to be completely sealed?

"There is a sheep farm nearby, does that mean these sheep have to be slaughtered?

"This is a rushed direction by MAFF, personally they should have approached the houses and farms in the surrounding areas," he added.

Dawn Threadgold, a councillor for nearby Haslington, said: "I am very concerned that as a borough council we were not asked, but were told, it would be used.

"The borough has not been asked to help with the logistics of the problem, we are being kept at arms length by MAFF. The borough's officers could have been used to approach residents and answer questions on safety or routes to the tip.

"Being kept in the dark is very stressful, this crisis has taken MAFF by storm, the crisis is running MAFF," she added.

The landfill is intended to be used for the dumping of sheep and pigs only which are free from Foot and Mouth disease.

Senior Environmental Health Officer, John Foster, has sought the meeting with MAFF officials to discuss the environmental impact.

In a briefing note to borough councillors, Mr Foster said: "MAFF have issued a protocol for the disposal of animal carcasses at landfill which will be applicable to Maw Green.

"Officers have met with the Environment Agency to discuss supervision of the disposal, current thinking is that preparation of the site will not take less than a week and could be longer.

"In the interim, officers will seek a meeting with the site operators, MAFF, and Environment Agency to clarify issues relating to environmental impact and disinfection of equipment and staff."

George Ager, from the Environment Agency said: "The Agency has carried out a technical assessment of Maw Green against the background of the urgent need to find suitable disposal facilities.

"Operators on site will be monitored by Agency staff to minimise the impact on local residents and the environment," he added.

In wider issues the borough's total of confirmed cases still stood at four on Tuesday, all in Baddiley, outside Nantwich.

However, Springbank Farm in Bradwall, Sandbach, has had 1,500 sheep and ewes slaughtered on suspicion of infection and as the Guardian went to press MAFF were awaiting the result of tests to discover if Foot and Mouth had been confirmed.

Farm Manager Steve Thorn, said he had called the vet back on Friday and the slaughter took place very quickly over the weekend.

Mr Thorn admitted to being very emotional over the loss of his flock adding: "I was too busy bringing the sheep and lambs into the building for slaughter to be able to reflect on it at the time."

Mr Thorn is now living on an empty farm: "It is very strange, I cannot do anything until the crisis is over and we already have restrictions on the farm for 90 days."

Cheshire NFU has highlighted the next two weeks as crucial as farmers will be considering bringing herds out to grass.

This could expose cows to a bigger risk and spokeswoman, Gill Shearer, said: "We are still on tenterhooks, we haven't had any cases over the last few days, but the next couple of weeks will be a testing time for farmers in Cheshire.

"The concerning point is that sheep hide the signs of foot and mouth very well so when farmers actually go to put their animals out, which is usually anytime in the next couple of weeks, if there is an infected sheep in the vicinity then the cattle will pick it up."

Mrs Shearer added: "We need to get past this period and we would call for continued vigilance."

"There are not a huge number of sheep in South Cheshire and that helps the situation."

BY PETE HENSHAW