THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080384
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 24 lines
City Councilman Leroy Bennett will host a community forum at Canaan Baptist Church at 2064 Nansemond Parkway today at 8 p.m. to allow officials at Allied Colloids Inc. to discuss safety precautions there.
About 100 residents who live in the Wilroy Road area near the plant sent letters or called Bennett with concerns about how the company handles safety, said the councilman.
``People had a lot of concerns and questions about what they (Allied) would do if they had a spill,'' Bennett said.
The company produces water-soluble polymers, and employees often deal with hazardous flammable materials such as acids, Vice President Peter Croft said.
But Croft said the company has recently upgraded its emergency response system. An alarm system will now alert nearby residents as well as company staffers in case of emergency, Croft said.
Allied officials will discuss other safety response measures with residents today. by CNB