The factory can no longer dispose of waste at a disused quarry

Castle Cement had wanted to bury cement kiln dust, which is classified as hazardous, next to its plant at Padeswood near Buckley.

Flintshire planning officials had recommended conditional approval but councillors voted against the plan.

Castle Cement say they will appeal against the decision.

Fears of contamination and the impact on people's health were raised by councillors at the meeting.

It was also claimed that the application was premature as the issue of the disposal of cement dust could be included in the planned All North Wales Waste Strategy.

Councillors voted 14 to seven against the scheme.

The company had said it could no longer dispose of hazardous cement kiln dust (CKD) at an existing site.

But before Wednesday's planning meeting Conservative AM Mark Isherwood had called for more time should be allowed for consultation with residents before a decision is made.

The waste will come from the site's new �60m kiln, which began commission this summer.

Excavated

The report to councillors said that the disposal of CKD will have to end at the existing site at a disused quarry at Pant y Buarth near Gwernaffield, which is eight miles from the Padeswood plant.

Instead the company proposed that two fields near the factory would be excavated and lined with a clay and plastic liner to protect against any leakages.

But some local residents said they were concerned about the environmental impact of the site.

John Rosser, from nearby Penyfford, said: "The fact that they will be disposing stuff classed as hazardous waste does raise fears - the village is worried."

Councillor Patrick Heesom said he was pleased the "premature" application had been rejected, saying he believed the company would be ill-advised to appeal.

'Nimbyism'

"I think it would be better if they consulted now with the regional waste strategy and came to a conclusion about a landfill site appropriate," he said.

Danny Coulston, Castle Cement's general manager, said they were "very disappointed" with the verdict and accused the council of "reacting to nimbyism"

He said the company did need a new area to dispose of around 7,000 tonnes of CKD a year and he could see no sound reason why it was refused.

As well as appealing against the decision, the company would now be considering its options.

"We were hoping to start disposing of the dust in three or four months time. Obviously that will now be delayed and we will have to see what we can do in the meantime," he said.