Derby streets evacuated

[R.White]

Last night about 6.00 pm, hundreds of Derby people were evacuated from their homes; including the University Halls of Residence, due to a threat of explosion at a Plating works in the City centre. The emergency services were called out - even the bomb squad was present - to deal with a potential disaster when someone at Nunn Street Plating realised they had made a serious error with dangerous chemicals. A spokesman for the family firm, who have been in Derby for many years, said he thought sounding the alarm was the right thing to do but admitted that if they had illegally flushed the chemicals down the drain no one would have been any the wiser.

I have used this plating firm and found them to be hard working and honest people who do a good job at a reasonable price and it was something of a shock to me that they should find themselves at the centre of controversy. What this means of course is there will now be a clamour for all plating activity to be banned from the City. We have heard this before. Unfortunately, we have lost many metal plating firms over the years and it is doubtful that this one would be able to afford the relocation and set up costs associated with a move to a less populated location. Less competition means higher prices and we are already paying the price for enforcing stricter E.U. rules ostensibly to protect the environment but which in reality risk harming it as corners are cut to stay in business.

How is it with you guys in the U.S.A.?

Ray.