A CHEMICAL company's application to allow almost 1,000 tonnes of a hazardous chemical to be stored at its Bowling Park Drive plant will be discussed by councillors.

Kemira Chemicals UK have asked for permission to increase the amount of acrylamide solution it stores at the site from 199 to 999 tonnes.

The water chemistry company needs the extra storage capacity as part of a plan to manufacture the solution in the city, instead of having to import it from Europe. It uses the solution to manufacture a non-toxic substance which helps to clear impurities from water.

Because the solution is hazardous, the company needs to apply to both Bradford Council and the Health and Safety executive to increase capacity.

The council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee has been recommended to grant hazardous substance consent when it meets on Thursday.

A number of people had objected to the application, with one local resident claiming the chemical could pose "a serious health threat with long term implications to the people of BD4, and indeed the district."

But a report being presented to the committee says: "The Health and Safety Executive have confirmed that risks to the surrounding population arising from the proposed changes are so small that there are no significant reasons for refusing consent."