The Sonae factory was devastated by a massive explosion at about 1.00pm on June 1st. We have a series of exclusive photo's and can report that a worker injured may be suffering serious head injuries. Looking at the devastation locals were surprised at the force of the blast which rocked nearby houses.We tried to get a press release but our photographer was kicked off the factory grounds by a security guard working for Nationwide Security services. More details on this jobsworth below!

Sonae Accident Saturday 1st June 2002.

There's has been another 'accident' at the Sonae Factory in Kirkby, Locals living nearby describe two 'explosions', followed by a black cloud of smoke which was so dense the Factory was not visible.Fire Engines have been on the site all day and there are reports of a number of separate fires breaking out at the plant.Kirkby Times has already shown you the piles of wood dust and timber just left exposed to the elements, these photo's are in the toxic gallery. But we also got exclusive photo's of the damage caused by the explosion here!

Apparently there has been a Worker seriously injured (we hope he's ok)at the Sonae factory due to this explosion. We feel it could be only a matter of time before a serious injury or death occurs, and reports from Workers who have had access to the Factory say that accidents and close accidents are happening fairly regular. As a Local Web site we are demanding that this factory should just be told to go elsewhere. We believe that if Kirkby had a referendum tomorrow, that Sonae would be given a resounding defeat, along with the Dumb Council who like to pretend they are actually doing this for our own good. Lets not forget the Labour Mafia who have screwed Kirkby for donkeys years with dodgy land deals and dubious grants to anyone who'll stay silent.

Kirkby Times is not going to stay silent.

We need your help to fight this one.If anyone can help us by writing an article or researching Sonae then we want to hear from you.This page will be expanded soon and will offer a more detailed account of Sonae's Health and Safety record.Contact us at the usual address.

Kirkby Times told to leave the premises of Sonae!

"I was phoned by someone and told about the explosion, this was late afternoon and i didn't get to the factory until 7.00pm, but it was still light enough to take a few shots of the explosions damage.

I took a series of maybe 100 photo's and then spoke to a number of locals who were stopping by driving into the Sonae car park to get a closer look at the damage. I decided to go in and try to get some sort of press statement. After all, i had a camera, a notebook and thought as a local i had the right to get some answers. I walked, unchallenged, into a reception area. I sat down for a minute and loaded up my camera. When i got out i noticed a couple of security guards walking towards me, i simply asked them for a press release or someone in charge and for a minute they scuttled round trying to phone the Sonae PR bloke to get a press release. I should have said i was from the Guardian, but i told em i was working on behalf of a local web site and was asked to leave. I then asked the guard was it was ok to take a few snaps, he said no, so i asked him the name of his security firm. He refused to do so, and asked why i should want to know. I told him he was being un-cooperative and i'd put a picture up of his firms sign so locals can boycott this firm for working with Sonae. Heres a snap of the firms security sign. Sorry it ain't top quality but you can see who is hired to protect this Toxic dump.They are also using a dog handler and van to chase away local kids. You really don't want to mess with the kids round here. If they marched en masse on Sonae, there would be no Sonae.

Nationwide Security are run by the usual ex army and Ex Cops types. They were formed in 1991 by the Managing director David Moyoz, ex Household Cavalry.They claim to specialise in "individually tailored security service to blue chip companies", er, must be slumming it with Sonae then

Latest Update(June 2/3)

The Fire Service are still in attendance at the Factory and a crane has been bought in to pull down the damaged sections of the corrugated steel front Reports in early editions of Radio Merseyside spoke of the injured worker being "critical" and we will report further if there is any change there.

We can report that over 30 fire fighters were in attendance at the aftermath of the explosion and a statement by a Chris Baldwin of the Fire Service spoke of a build up of both wood dust(which blows freely round Kirkby) and the fumes of the glue.It is understood that this Chris Baldwin said he didn't believe the local community was in any danger from the fumes following the fire. But we'd like to hear from Firemen( who we tried to interview)as to how dangerous the explosion and fires were. They may also have other info concerning Sonae, all whistle blowers are welcome to air there views here However,local kids or anyone nearby the explosion would have been in extreme danger.We hope Local Firemen(not the bosses) can give us a honest opinion on how dangerous this blaze was. There are, stored in Sonae, some very dangerous chemicals. If there is Formaldehyde stored on the premises, we think it should be made public. Sonae operates in secrecy, like a lot of big corporations(its a multinational)they put a lot of money into duping people into believing a certain image. What they are in reality is a Company who have a track record in environmental destruction. They don't recycle forests, they cut em down and douse the wood in chemicals to sell to us as chipboard products.

Lets wait to hear Knowsley Councils excuses on this one!

As usual Knowsley councils first concern will be for themselves and Sonae. They won't want the serious injury of a worker to get in the way of opening the factory as soon as possible But we say that to open it in a rush would be fool hardy. There needs to now be a look at just how many accidents and close accidents are taking place at the factory.We will report back as and when more news comes in.

Oh, by the Way, Check out the below sign. Another Sonae Lie...........

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