Apology demanded over tyre fire

Debris at the site has still not been cleared

Residents living at Kirton, near Boston in Lincolnshire, say they are still waiting for an apology from local authorities over a tyre warehouse fire.

Homes had to be evacuated last July as plumes of smoke with traces of asbestos formed clouds over their properties.

A meeting was held on Tuesday night to discuss the handling of the incident.

The owner of the site, David Lowe, said he expected the remaining debris from the warehouse fire to be removed by contractors on 1 April.

Clearing debris

Peter Fletcher who lives in the village and organised the meeting, said he felt it had taken too long for any action to be taken.

"I have been chasing this now for eight months and it has taken up a lot of my time," he said.

"The one thing I am seeking is an apology from the Environment Agency and Boston Borough Council.

"If there had been better communications and procedures they may, and I emphasise may, have reduced the scale of the damage."

The owner of the tyre warehouse site, David Lowe, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire his business worked within Environment Agency guidelines on both the height tyres were stacked and the tonnage stored at the Kirton site.

Boston Borough Council said it had nothing further to say on Tuesday's meeting as a request had been made by residents for it to remain private.