RESIDENTS worried about alleged fumes and noise from a nearby factory are being urged to attend a public meeting next Monday.

Some 1,200 leaflets are due to be delivered this weekend to houses in the West Heath area of Congleton to publicise the meeting, which will focus on a firm in Back Lane.

The meeting is being held at Blackfirs Primary School, and has been called to give local people the chance to have their say about emissions from the factory.

The meeting is also seen as providing an opportunity for residents to hear what progress the borough council and Environment Agency is making in addressing residents' concerns.

Monday's meeting is due to start at 7.30pm, and is being organised by Congleton West Conservative councillors Roland Domleo, Bill Wolstencroft and David Brown.

''The meeting will provide a forum for people to discuss noise and odour issues relating to a particular factory in Back Lane I do not wish to name,'' said Clr Domleo.

''We have a smell problem in West Heath when the wind blows in a certain direction, and people living in Chestnut Drive seem to be the worst affected.

''The smell is horrible, and was particulary bad in May, during election time.

''Residents do not know what is going on in relation to the noise and smell problems, feel frustrated, and want the problem solving, as I do.

''The main aim of the meeting is to provide local people with information, and we are delivering 1,200 leaflets this weekend to publicise it.

''We need a good turnout, because if people do not come along the factory can say there is not a problem.''

Blackfirs head Martin Casserley said children were taken back into the school from the playground one lunchtime this spring because a strong smell he understood came from the factory in question.

''The smell was obnoxious, we did not know what it was, and we took the children inside because their health and safety is of paramount importance,'' he said.

Clr Domleo is to chair the meeting, which is due to be attended by pollution control officer Ian Grady from the Environment Agency and borough council environmental health officer John Gerring.

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