QUESTIONS have been raised as to how the severity of fires is recorded by Hills at its Stephenson Road plant in Westbury.

It follows a blaze at the waste management and recycling firm earlier this year that provoked fears about safety and air pollution in the town.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service put out a message on social media which stated there was “a large amount of waste material well alight”.

A spokesman from Trowbridge fire station warned residents “to keep their windows and doors closed as plumes of smoke from the fire on West Wilts Trading Estate is drifting across the town”. But in a press statement following the fire at the end of January, a spokesman from Hills Waste stated that it was “most certainly not a large fire as has been described by some sources”.

A spokesman from Hills Waste said: “We held a meeting with the local fire prevention officer who confirmed the systems in place are satisfactory.

“Whilst the plant has an in-built bespoke fire suppression system, we do not solely rely on existing technology and are adopting and improving our procedures on an ongoing basis.

“As responsible operators we continue to investigate the cause of these incidents and in addition to reminding people of the importance of disposing of their waste responsibly, we are also liaising with technology providers to investigate what, if any, measures can be incorporated to eradicate ignition opportunities.

“Every incident at the MBT plant is reported to the Environment Agency and other appropriate authorities. We only request the assistance of the emergency services when absolutely necessary. On some occasions members of the public have called the emergency services when a mixture of smoke and steam has been seen around the building.”

No damage has been sustained to either the building or equipment as a result of any fire at this site.