COMPANY boss Michael Dines is to work with local residents and councillors in a bid to calm pollution fears about emissions from his factory.

Mr Dines is the managing director of FE Mottram, a Congleton business based in Back Lane which recycles scrap aluminium.

Noise and smells from the factory have sparked complaints from people living in West Heath, who packed into a school hall this week for a public meeting to voice their concerns.

The meeting was held at Blackfirs Primary School, and was organised to give families the chance to hear how the borough council and Environment Agency were responding to those concerns.

The meeting was attended by Ian Grady from the agency and borough council environmental health officer John Gerring, as well as Mr Dines.

The Mottram MD agreed to the establishment of a so-called liaison panel which would meet every month and enable people to see for themselves what was happening at his factory.

The group is likely to include four local people, as well as councillors and possibly representatives from the borough council and Environment Agency.

He also invited small groups of local people to tour the Back Lane factory to see what action he was taking to reduce any nuisance from smells and noise.

"We want to be part of the community, and not to be a bad neighbour to anyone," said Mr Dines.

"I have lived in Congleton all my life, want to be a part of the town, and we as a company have a great benefit to bring to Congleton.

''We have spent over £1 million pounds on various improvements to reduce noise and emissions, which are costing us £5,000 a month in running costs, and we have a number of plans to carry out more improvements.

Another public meeting about the factory is due to be held at Blackfirs Primary in three months.

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