MORE than a week after a huge chemical fire at Nu-Pro, concerned residents were still demanding answers about the long-term health implications of the blaze.

There was standing room only at Stroud Brewery on Saturday as dozens of local residents attended a meeting to seek answers about the fire which started at Nu-Pro’s Eagle Works aerospace factory in Thrupp on Wednesday, July 9.

The meeting was organised as an opportunity for residents to ask questions about what happened, the consequences of the fire and who, if anyone, is to blame.

Representatives from the fire service, police, the Environment Agency, Stroud District Council and Public Health England attended the meeting in order to quell any fears residents may have.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and firefighter John Beard, who attended the blaze, explained that a full investigation into the cause will take place however the building is still deemed too unsafe to enter.

One significant absence from the line up was a representative from Nu-Pro, which had decided that it would not get a fair trial and instead sent a statement to be given to residents at the meeting.

Questions at the meeting centred around the possible health implications of the chemicals that were burnt and whether they posed any health risks.

Dr Bharat Pankhania, who attended the meeting as a representative from Public Health England, tried to reassure residents that it was highly unlikely that the smoke contained harmful chemicals which would lead to long term health problems.