Angry residents of Harold Hill's Briar Road estate are preparing to kick up a stink over controversial plans to convert a disused factory into a chemical storage facility.

Fears of a public health risk were sparked when it emerged that ammonia in plastic containers would be one of the "used, redundant, out of date" chemicals kept on the Oakwood House site in Tonbridge Road.

But householders in nearby Harebell Way claim the factory site - which was previously used for manufacturing electrical components - has been broken into by local youths on numerous occasions.

And they fear that if toxic materials were to be stored in the building disaster could result in the event of a fire being started by vandals.

In response, Cllr O'Flynn, who is the Labour ward member for the area, said he had started a petition voicing "the strongest possible objections" to the application, which has been submitted on behalf of Silver Lining Industries Ltd based in Bow, east London.

A spokesman for Havering Borough Council said: "As is normal procedure, residents adjacent to the site were consulted.

"Letters of notification were sent to 13 residents in Harebell Way and an advertisement was placed in the local press on Friday, January 11."

The spokesman added: "Local residents still have the opportunity to make comments and should write, by Monday, February 25, to the head of regulatory services."

The address to write to is: London Borough of Havering, Mercury House, Mercury Gardens, Romford RM1 3SL.

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002