The main argument used against Sonae is regarding the fumes released by the chimney or various vents. The chimney seems to be the main highlighted issue - perhaps because the chimney is highly visible - and for a lot of people here it's the only part of Sonae we see. However, the pollution isn't just coming from the chimney or the other vents which seem to be more active at night. Often the smell we have hanging in the air is actually tiny particles of wood dust - we've ALL smelt that overpowering chemical smell - if you have new chipboard furniture you will be familiar with the sickly smell - the artificial wood and chemical odours which is there until the wood 'dries' properly. Even in household furniture made from Chipboard - chemicals are released for a while. If a few bits of furniture can cause adverse health reactions in people (and they can) then what is a massive mountain of this wood dust going to do to us?

The Wood Dust Mountains were first photographed by Kirkby Times in Oct 2001. Then we caught the fire burning and got video evidence and photographic proof when the factory exploded! Almost every week - photos are taken which show the wood dust mountain and the smoke - but for many in Kirkby, even Northwood, they do not realise the size of the massive wood dust mountains in Sonae. Below we have a photo gallery of the wood dust mountains from Oct 2001 to the present day - this gallery will be updated soon with more photos. For now you're invited to take the tour.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO TAKE THE KIRKBY TIMES SONAE WOOD DUST MOUNTAINS PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR!