WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier spoke at the Fire Futures Forum to discuss fire prevention at recycling centres.

The aim of the forum, organised by the Chief Fire Officers Association, was to generate debate about how best to tackle the problem of fires in waste management and recycling facilities.

Mr Garnier opened the event on Wednesday last week by talking about the large fire at Lawrence Recycling, in Stourport Road, in June which took firefighters seven and a half weeks to put out.

Speaking at the event, Mr Garnier said: “I am appealing that you come up with suggestions for a refreshed and appropriate licensing regime for waste recycling centres, for a new protocol on informing the public of what their response should be and what changes should be brought about into the thorny issue of who bears the costs of the fires.”

The event aimed to find a cost-effective and viable solution to preventing fires at recycling centres.

Mr Garnier said: “This event was extremely useful in bringing together key policy makers and industry experts.

“In Kidderminster we have had two fires at Lawrence Recycling in the past year, which have had both economic implications including local job losses.

“It is therefore imperative that a solution is found in order to better prevent such fires in the future”