PLANS to build a new cement works on Green Belt land at Holborough, near Snodland, have been approved by the Government - despite fierce opposition from Medway Council. The £200 million project, which will create up to 150 new jobs, marks the first new cement works to be built in Britain in 30 years. Blue Circle, the company behind the scheme, had faced opposition from environmental campaigners and Medway council during a second public inquiry earlier this year. Council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers has bitterly condemned the Government's decision. He said:"The Medway Valley will be the dumping ground for massive amounts of increased activity and possibly thousands of extra lorry movements as a result of the decision.

"There is no certainty that the Medway Towns will not bear the brunt of pollution from the new factory." Opponents of the planned works argued it would mar the landscape of the Medway Valley and pollute the environment.

But Blue Circle's project manager, Richard Sams said the new works at Home Farm, Holborough, which will replace the company's present site in Northfleet, marked a shift towards cleaner production. He said: "The new technology of making cement is very different. We are able to eliminate waste streams."

He said emissions from the works would be well within Government guidelines. The 300-acre site will produce 1.4 million tonnes of cement per year, pumping £1million into the local economy every month. Mr Sams stressed: "The Secretary of State's approval is a major vote of confidence for the UK manufacturing industry."

Charlie Grayhurst, chairman of Snodland Town Council, said: "We are disappointed. We will strive to get the best out of this deal for Snodland as we can and we will closely monitor the situation to ensure all the data regarding the output of this factory will be correct."

He added that people living in the town were also worried about the value of their properties.