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We know that people in the local community continue to have concerns about the Kronospan site in Chirk. We want to reassure residents that we continue to regulate the site in line with its environmental permit through site inspections, investigations, the review of air and water monitoring data, and regular engagement with the operator and partner organisations.
Our officers carry out inspections and assessments to help ensure that the site is operating in accordance with its permit requirements. We understand that local people may wish to contact us about their concerns. However, we encourage residents to use only our official reporting channels when reporting incidents.
Anyone with concerns can report them to us by calling our 24/7 incident communications line on 0300 065 3000 or by using our online incident reporting form.
Using these channels allows us to investigate concerns thoroughly and consistently, while ensuring our officers can focus on their regulatory duties.
If residents encounter our colleagues while they are carrying out their regulatory responsibilities, we ask that they are treated with respect. We fully respect the public's right to raise concerns and ask questions. However, lengthy interactions, repeated challenges regarding previous decisions, or personal criticism of staff can make it difficult for officers to complete the observations and evidence-gathering activities they are there to undertake.
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When a report is received, it is logged and assessed by our teams. It is considered alongside other reports, monitoring data and information we hold about the site. We do not assess reports in isolation. Instead, we use them to build a broader picture over time, helping us identify patterns and target our regulatory activity. Reports may lead to further site inspections, investigations or engagement with the operator.
We understand that people would like feedback on the reports they submit. However, due to the volume of reports we receive, as well as data protection considerations and the way we assess information collectively, we are unable to provide individual responses. Providing updates on every report would reduce the time available for our regulatory work. We therefore provide regular updates to share information about our regulatory activities and the action we are taking.
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Dust management remains a key area of focus. Misting systems continue to operate within the recycled fibre delivery and storage areas, supported by mobile dust suppression equipment. These measures are always checked during our inspections.
We are also continuing to review the site's Dust Management Plan and are following up with audits to assess how the controls are being implemented and whether further improvements are needed.
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We have recently completed an audit of WESP32 (an emission control system). A Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) will be published on the Public Register in due course. During the audit, some inconsistencies were identified between the information provided in improvement condition responses and the way the equipment is operating in practice. These matters are currently being investigated.
We continue to strengthen our odour assessment capability. Officers investigating odour complaints are undertaking refresher odour training, from introductory awareness through to advanced control techniques. Environmental permits do not require officers to have a “screened” or “calibrated” sense of smell when carrying out inspections, but we believe that this training is important.
It is also important to remember that the detection of an odour does not automatically indicate a permit breach. Permit conditions require emissions to be free from odour at levels likely to cause pollution outside the site, unless the operator has used appropriate measures to prevent or, where this is not practicable, minimise odour.
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Noise remains another area of ongoing work. The site operator is continuing to undertake further noise-related assessments and improvements.
An extension has been granted to Improvement Condition 40, relating to the Noise Management Plan, until 30 September 2026. This will allow additional work to be completed and assessed.
As with odour, the permit requires emissions from activities to be free from noise and vibration at levels likely to cause pollution outside the site, unless the operator has used appropriate measures to prevent or, where this is not practicable, minimise those impacts.
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The Oriented Strand Board (OSB) variation application remains under consideration by our permitting service.
We are following our established permitting procedures and will consult in line with our Public Participation Statement. This sets out when and why we consult, and how consultation forms part of our decision-making process.
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Enhanced monitoring continues at both the K7 Boiler and the MDF2 Cyclones. Investigations into previous exceedances are ongoing.
We continue to work closely with partner organisations as these investigations progress and will provide further updates when appropriate.
Following the lifting of the suspension notice, the K7 Biomass Boiler was restarted at the beginning of March 2026.
Overall, emissions are improving. Heavy metal emissions have been fully compliant since the K7 Biomass Boiler was restarted, and emissions of dioxins and furans have reduced significantly. However, they remain non-compliant. Emissions from the K7 Biomass Boiler are carried through ducts to the MDF2 cyclones and released into the air at this point. Monitoring carried out at the same time as the additional testing showed that emissions from the cyclones were below the emission limits set for the K7 Biomass Boiler.
An enforcement notice remains in place requiring Kronospan to continue enhanced monthly monitoring of dioxins and furans at the K7 Boiler and the MDF2 Cyclones until the end of the year. This requirement remains subject to ongoing review. All other emission parameters will continue to be monitored at these emission points in accordance with the permit requirements.
The enforcement notice also requires Kronospan to investigate the measures needed to reduce the formation of dioxins and furans within the boiler and to provide a plan demonstrating how compliance will be achieved.
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