ENVIRONMENTAL pressure group The Air That We Breathe is calling on supporters to put their money where their mouth is.

The group, which campaigns against alleged harmful emissions from Westbury cement works, is embarking on a concerted fundraising crusade.

Members decided on the move after discussing tactics with other European cement campaigners at an international conference in France last week.

TATWB chairman David Levy said: "What became clear was the need to firm up our financial base. And we can learn from our colleagues who have a sound financial base by their citizens funding their activities via direct debit.

"We will be approaching each Westbury citizen and those in the surrounding villages for a £1 a week or £5 a month donation paid direct to our account to support our work."

The conference in Nice discussed Issues Arising from the Burning of Hazardous Wastes In Cement Kilns and saw delegates from America, Italy, Germany and France.

Mr Levy said the gathering proved a big success and paid tribute to the donors who had supported it.

He said: "We were able to fund the flights, accommodation and food for six conference speakers and five delegates and I have to say the English were a class act.

"The conference was squashed into a long, long day starting at 10am and ran until 12.15am the following day."

The conference was filmed by the BBC and also received plenty of coverage from the French media. Now Mr Levy believes TATWB's vision of forming an international campaign to challenge the cement industry has become a reality.

He said: "The Air That We Breathe group had aspirations that the European cement communities networked together for mutual strength. This is happening already.

"French CNIID has 28 groups across France and they are networked into GIA a global anti incineration lobby group.

"So TATWB is joining with our English colleagues into a substantial force which will use, if necessary, the European Courts to challenge industrial aspirations that conflict with European law."

Lafarge Cement UK, which runs the Westbury plant, has always maintained its process is safe and environmentally friendly. The company has started a £10m refurbishment programme in Westbury, which will include work to maintain the efficiency and enhance the reliability of its large filters that control dust emissions.

TATWB is already organising a follow up conference, which will take place at the University of the West of England in March 2006 and hopes businesses will support it.