Blast firm admits safety breaches

Locals have been campaigning for the plant to close for five years

A chemical processing company has admitted a string of health and safety offences after a major explosion damaged its plant.

A fire and a number of explosions devastated the Cleansing Service Group's (CSG) toxic waste site at Sandhurst, Gloucestershire, in October 2000.

People living near the plant told health experts they suffered sore throats and burning eyes afterwards, and there were calls for a public inquiry.

An investigation by the Environment Agency followed and on Tuesday at Gloucester Magistrates' Court the company admitted 15 counts of breaking health and safety rules and damaging the environment.

The charges faced by CSG include:

keeping waste material in a way likely to harm public health

pollution of the environment

putting the welfare of its workers at risk.

The case has been transferred to the city's crown court for sentencing at a later date.

The company sold the Sandhurst site earlier this year to architectural reclamation firm Ronson Reclamation.