THE operation of a wool processing plant in Addingham has not produced the environmental nightmare feared by residents.

Straume UK's plant at Low Mill has been operating for around six weeks without disturbing local residents.

When the plan to develop the derelict mill into a high-tech processing plant was announced, many residents of Low Mill village feared unacceptable levels of noise, bad smells, river pollution and high levels of traffic.

Despite their worries the development of the plant - on the site of one of the country's oldest worsted spinning mills - was given the go-ahead by Bradford planners.

But the company had to provide stringent environmental protection guarantees to planners and the Government's Environment Agency before getting the thumbs-up.

Managing director Stephen Porter said the plant was now operational with two shifts working. A night shift is also planned for the future.

Mr Porter said tidying up operations were still going on to clear the site of any debris left from the building work. Landscaping work is also planned to enhance the appearance of the buildings.

He said that the processing involved bringing sheep fleeces into the plant, washing and blending them before sending them out again to be spun into carpets.

Although fleeces from wool producing countries all over the world were used, carpet spinning was mainly carried out using English wool, said Mr Porter.

Pat Jackson, one of the Low Mill residents who opposed the construction of the processing plant, said she had experienced no problems with noise, traffic or smells, since the plant started up.

"It seems to be going quite smoothly and I haven't had any problem with noise or smells," said Mrs Jackson.

She added: "I just hope everything goes smoothly and the assurances we had will come true."

Addingham Parish Council chairman Stephen Crossley-Smith, who also lives in Low Mill village, said: "I have heard nobody complain and it looks a lot better than it used to. The only local smell is the slurry on the fields."

Coun Crossley-Smith said he hoped that the plant and the residents could co-exist as neighbours in the future.

Mr Porter said the plant already employed around 30 people with a mix of part-time and full-time staff. But that number would increase when a night shift was started.

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