MINOSUS managing director Roger Shaw was quizzed by angry residents at the public meeting.

Residents interrogated him about the implications of dumping waste in the salt mine, and about possible increased traffic movements in the area.

Chris Whittaker, of Petrel Close, Winsford, said: "I am totally against the proposed project. Can the company grant us 100 per cent safety? If they cannot, is it not true to say that the people in this area will be living under constant risk of danger to their well-being?"

Mr Shaw responded: "Unless we are sure we would not be proceeding with this. We will not be taking any chances."

Moulton resident Peter Adamson asked what wastes would be stored in the mine.

Mr Shaw said: "We are still in the process of preparing a list. We are about a month away. When it is completed we will be making it public knowledge."

Sarah Wilkinson, of RAMP, pointed out that Sarp Industries, a subsidiary of Minosus, is being prosecuted at Derbyshire Crown Court for treating waste in a manner likely to cause pollution.

Mr Shaw stated: "Minosus is a joint venture between Namsco UK and Sarp. Minosus has no track record of any prosecutions because it's not operating yet."

A Moulton resident, who did not give his name, said: "Up to 25 lorry loads of waste a day will eventually arrive at number four shaft. What proportion of waste can you realistically hope to analyse to check it is safe to dump in the mine?"

Mr Shaw answered: "On arrival of the waste at the site we will do a thumb print analysis of that waste.

"In the early stages of a contract every drum and bag would be checked. But we would hope that after perhaps years, we would only have to check one in every four bags or maybe one in every 10."

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