NORTH WALES Assembly Member Llyr Gruffydd has expressed disappointment at the Welsh Government’s refusal to back an independent inquiry into recent fires at Kronospan.

The Plaid Cymru AM again raised the issue in the Senedd in questions to Lesley Griffiths, the minister for the environment, this week.

He asked: “In light of the recent fire at Kronospan in Chirk and the pollution resulting from that fire, the 17th in 18 years, are you satisfied with the level of monitoring carried out by Natural Resources Wales and Wrexham Council?

“Residents are mounting weekly protests as a result of this latest fire and I share their concerns that the bodies responsible for ensuring their safety are not providing reassurance given the plant’s record.

“Will you agree to hold an independent inquiry with community representation and to ensure there is permanent independent air-quality monitoring around the site to provide community reassurance?”

The minister said she was awaiting further information from Wrexham Council about the log-yard fire and would be meeting with NRW in the next couple of weeks and would seek assurances from them about the plant.

She went on to say “I don’t think there’s a need for an independent inquiry.”

Mr Gruffydd responded by saying: “I think residents deserve better than this casual dismissal by the minister.

“There have been numerous fires and safety incidents that deserve further investigation.

“She also side-stepped my call for permanent independent monitoring of the air quality around the site.

“It’s just not good enough to dismiss health concerns.”

A spokesman for Wrexham Council said: “Wrexham Council is currently undertaking an investigation into the recent fire.

“We have installed particulate monitoring equipment in Chirk on a temporary basis with officers reviewing the possibility of installing longer term air quality monitors to provide community reassurance.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “This matter is being taken incredibly seriously by the Minister and all related parties and it is disappointing the Minister’s comments have been misrepresented.

“The environmental regulator of the affected part of the site, Wrexham CBC, will be undertaking an investigation into the incident and any potential breaches of environmental permit conditions, as is normal following an incident. Environmental regulatory responsibility for the entire site is in the process of transferring to NRW. The Minister will therefore be meeting both regulators to seek their assurances they are making appropriate use of their extensive range of regulatory and enforcement powers. This will include whether any further or different monitoring is required. At this point there is no evidence that supports the need for an independent inquiry.”