Lafarge to demolish Westbury cement factory

The Westbury plant was mothballed back in February 2009 due to the economic downturn, with the loss of 68 jobs. The company has now decided to demolish the plant. However, the company intends to continue its bulk and bagged cement distribution operations from the site. The company also intends to continue running the onsite cement mills for blending cement products using clinker from Lafarge’s other UK sites.

Since the ‘mothballing’ of the site was announced, neither of the Works’ kilns has been used.  Similarly, all quarry operations have been suspended. Throughout this time, the company has ensured that the site and quarry areas have remained secure. 

Lafarge Cement UK’s managing director Erdogan Pekenc said, “It is clearly with much regret that clinker manufacturing at the site is drawn to a close. However, as a year has now passed in the site’s new role as a depot, it is continuing to play an important role in our national supply network. We remain committed to supplying our customers with high quality products from the site.”

Plans are now underway to decommission and demolish the kilns at the site, the future of the clay and chalk quarries that supplied the factory will also be decided then.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/17062010/lafarge_to_demolish_westbury_cement_factory/