The owners of a wood panel factory in Chirk believe calls made by an MP for the appointment of an independent air quality monitor are premature.

The Kronospan factory spent much of last week on fire and continues to smoulder still, leaving furious residents calling for action.

Simon Baynes, the Conservative MP for Clywd South, made a call for the monitor following a surgery with residents in the town on Saturday.

But a spokesman for the factory insisted it has measures in place to carry out an independent assessment.

“Kronospan will be conducting a full inquiry into the causes of the fire,” said the spokesman.

“The Kronospan site is a highly regulated site and it is monitored and audited regularly by independent agencies, including Natural Resources Wales and Wrexham Council.

“In terms of air quality, periodic emissions monitoring is required by our permit conditions and takes place using an independent MCERTS accredited laboratory which is part of a global group, who analyse the results before they are presented to the regulatory authorities.

“The monitoring that is being called for would be a duplication of those things that are already required by, paid for, and provided for, in the existing environmental permits for the site but in any case arrangements for independent dust monitoring are already in place.

“Noise monitoring at sensitive off-site receptors takes place on a regular basis and we are currently in the process of proving reduced noise levels using an independent expert.”

Mr Baynes said: “There is huge concern locally about the recent fire at Kronospan and how it started so it is vital that an open and transparent investigation is conducted into the causes of the fire and that the full findings of the report are made available to the public.

“Residents of Chirk and the surrounding area also spoke on Saturday about their ongoing concerns about air quality and noise levels from the factory, and these issues need to be addressed urgently by Kronospan by independent monitoring.

“I am working with Chirk Town Council and Wrexham Council, and look forward to these matters being progressed with Kronospan.”

Meanwhile, last weekend, parents and youngsters protested outside of the factory, demanding ‘clean air’ with more protests lined up for the end of this week.

Kronospan has apologised for the fire and the impact it has had on residents.