Owners of Rugby Cement Works have hit back over claims they held a secret meeting to discuss new fuel-burning proposals. Cemex outlined plans to trial the new Climafuel system at a meeting on June 2, and as reported in the local press one of the reporters attended the meeting. Lilian Pallikaropoulos, of campaign group Rugby in Plume, claimed the event, which was also attended by councillors and interested parties, was a ’propaganda exercise’ and hadn’t been advertised correctly. However, Ian Southcott, UK Community Affairs Manager with Cemex, said: "Any accusations of secrecy are just irrelevant. It was that so secret a reporter from the Rugby Advertiser were there. It wasn’t a public meeting - it was a meeting of key stakeholders so it didn’t need to be advertised as we had informed them."

The system, which will fuel the cement kiln at the Lawford Road plant, will consist of household waste such as cardboard, textiles and plastics. Cemex says the system will produce a ’solid, clean and non-hazardous fuel’ will help them reduce emissions and waste from the plant.

The company held an exhibition at Rugby Library last week publicising the plans and has also launched a consultation scheme into the proposals. A copy of the application is available at www.cemex.co.uk and anyone wishing to submit comments on the scheme should do by August 31. Cemex then plans to apply to the Environment Agency for permission to trial the fuel in September.