EMOTIONS ran high during last Thursday's public meeting in response to the Gorslas scrap-yard fire.

Clive Scourfield, chair of the meeting, began by reading out a statement by Cymru Metals, the yard's owners.

It denied accusations that the fire was started deliberately and went on to state that they were willing to discuss plans for a proposed relocation to another site within the county.

Carmarthenshire Council, however, has no legal authority to find a new site as the yard is a private company.

Bryan Tanning, a representative from the council's planning department, then told a packed Cefneithin Welfare Hall he was "absolutely certain" that planning permission would be refused for the yard under today's restrictions.

A slightly more hostile reception was reserved for the Environment Agency's Peter John.

He told an already edgy audience that the site was exempt from licensing - instead it only had to meet certain criteria regarding waste disposal.

He then went on to add that a recent inspection had found the site to be in compliance with all regulations and that the Agency subsequently had no authority regarding closure of the yard.

By this point, certain members of the audience began to vent their frustrations more vocally, and Mr Scourfield had to call order on more than one occasion.

As an outcome of the meeting a petition is being drawn up, which, it is hoped, will be in circulation by next week.

A six-strong delegation, yet to be appointed, will also meet with Cymru Metals representatives to discuss the concerns of the community along with the company's future plans regarding its Gorslas site.