Tata reveals Port Talbot's air quality plans

Metal company Tata Steel has revealed how it plans to improve the air quality in Port Talbot.

It confirmed that it is working with local authorities to carefully monitor the atmosphere at its plant in the town, the South Wales Evening Post reports.

Plans were revealed at an open day at the site, with the firm saying it is "doing everything possible to reduce our negative impacts on the local community".

Tata Steel's company technical director Ian Hobson stated: "We investigate the complaints we receive and - working together with the local authority and the Environment Agency - we are monitoring the presence of particulate matter in the atmosphere."

He added that an Air Quality Action Plan has been agreed with the council, which will help control the amount of dust released from the plant.

The company held the event to reassure local residents ahead of its £185 million project to rebuild a furnace at the site.

It plans to start work on the initiative in July 2012, claiming that it will increase the capacity of two blast kilns by up to 400,000 tonnes every year.

Posted by Claire Manning