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07
Aug 2020
Fears over Tockwith explosives facility
Residents in Tockwith have said they are worried about the safety of an explosives storage facility that will be built in the village.
Explosives firm Brexco were granted planning permission for a storage site at the former Tockwith Airfield last year.
Six metal storage buildings will be built to house explosives and detonators for use in mines and quarries. The facility can hold up to 85 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is the chemical blamed for the blast in Lebanon this week.
The initial application faced fierce opposition from residents, with more than 600 people signing a petition objecting to the plans.
Former Green Party parliamentary candidate and Tockwith resident Arnold Warneken told the Stray Ferret that businesses and residents fears were heightened after witnessing the explosion on TV.
He said:
The Beirut explosion this week involved 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate - a much larger quantity than the amount planned for Tockwith. There have been allegations of criminal negligence in Lebanon around how safely the chemical was stored.
Brexco told the Stray Ferret that it follows strict UK government regulations for the handling of ammonium nitrate to ensure the safety and security of the chemical.
A Brexco spokesperson said:
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