By Richard Ault
Health inspectors are investigating complaints made by residents living near an oil refinery.
Families in Burslem fear the nearby Whelan Oil Refinery could be causing sore throats, respiratory problems and itchy eyes.
They have also complained of a noxious smell which they believe is coming from the plant at Sneyd Hill’s industrial estate.
Now, the Health Protection Agency – an independent body which assesses the health effects of exposure to hazardous chemicals in the air – is carrying out a survey in the area to get to the bottom of the health concerns.
It is working with Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the Environment Agency.
James Chipwete, of the Health Protection Agency, said: “The survey is being carried out together with the PCT.
“We have had people complaining about problems in the area, of a smog and smells, as well as irritations of eyes and respiratory symptoms.
“It is to find out to what extent this is affecting the community.” Dr Chipwete says it is too early to say if there are any real health concerns caused by the oil refining process. The Health Protection Agency will be canvassing opinion, speaking to residents around the plant, over the next few weeks.
At the same time Environment Agency inspectors are going into the oil refinery itself to carry out a review of equipment and processing. An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We are working with the company to ensure they are complying with their permit.
“We are also doing an audit over the next few weeks. We will be examining the results of that audit along with the PCT.”
The former Petrus Oils factory was closed by the Environment Agency in 2000, after years of complaints from residents.
Last June, the agency agreed to grant an operating permit to Whelan Refining Limited, paving the way for the firm to begin recycling 50,000 tons of waste oil a year.
In October, the plant was temporarily shut after a gas leak led to the evacuation of part of the Burslem campus of Stoke-on-Trent College.
Residents claim they have been forced to endure bad smells since the plant reopened, but say they have intensified over the last few weeks. Roger Bradshaw, aged 59, lives with his wife Olwen, aged 52, at nearby Moorland Road. He said: “The smell has been horrific. It seems to get worse in the evening. We have had two weeks of very bad smells. It seems to be in pockets. You can walk out the door and be hit by the smell, then walk around the corner and it’s not there.
“The worry is what it may be doing to our health. Both me and the wife get dry eyes in the evening, We’ve taken to putting eye drops in at night. We have both had sore throats. My wife has asthma and it has got much worse just lately.”
Neighbour Doreen White, aged 79, said: “You can see yellow markings on the windows, which I have to clean off. The smell is very pungent; it’s not very nice.”
John Steventon, aged 70, also of Moorland Road, pictured left, said: “I suffer with asthma, but it seems to be getting worse.
“The smell is bad enough, but I’m more worried about my health, and my children and grandchildren.”
John Whelan, managing director of Whelan Oil Refinery, declined to comment.
(c) 2008 Sentinel, The (Stoke-on-Trent UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
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