THE site of a proposed new glass factory near Selby is sitting on top of the area's biggest source of drinking water, it emerged today.

And Environment Agency pollution inspectors have already expressed concerns about the risk of contamination posed by the £80 million plant at Eggborough.

Agency spokeswoman Lara Dalton said the 80-acre site, next to Eggborough Power Station, was in a ground water protection zone.

She said they had already spoken to the French glass manufacturer, Saint Gobain, to voice their concerns, and told them they would have to submit a thorough environmental impact risk assessment.

Miss Dalton said: "We aren't saying at this stage that the problems are insurmountable, but the site falls under the ground water protection legislation and extra precautions may have to be taken."

Selby District Council's environmental services director, Mike White, said the underground reservoir below the site provided drinking water for much of the Selby area and beyond.

He said: "The land has been allocated for industrial development in the district local plan, in which the ground water problem has always been identified. I have spoken to the company and they are quite confident they can overcome any difficulties.

"It would be a major source of employment and we hope the company can satisfy the Environment Agency in regard to any protective measures."

Mr White said the main materials that the plant would use would be sand and dolomite, a natural mineral, and it was likely that equipment would be gas-fired.

District councillor John McCartney, who represents the Eggborough ward, said the village was in danger of "overload".

It was being asked to absorb an awful lot of industrial and housing development, and he would be seeking the views of residents and parish councillors on how they felt about the proposed glass plant.

Coun McCartney said: "Saint Gobain has to get it right first time because there won't be a second chance.

"We have to have a copper-bottomed guarantee that there will be no risk whatsoever to our drinking water."

* The Evening Press revealed last week that the new plant would create 166 jobs in the first phase alone. Saint Gobain, which has worldwide operations, has narrowed down its search for a UK foothold to two sites in Yorkshire and Humberside - with Eggborough the current favourite.

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