URBASER Balfour Beatty has issued a statement responding to MP Neil Carmichael’s call for compensation to be paid to communities near the site of the Javelin Park incinerator.

In an interview with the SNJ last week following his general election victory, the Stroud MP said a '"community fund’" should be set up to compensate communities around the £500 million plant near Haresfield.

He said: “The next step is to make it possible for communities to have at least some recompense from having it so close to them."

However, UBB, the company which is building the facility, said it already has a similar plan in mind.

Project director Javier Peiro said: “We are committed to providing the best solution possible to manage the waste from Gloucestershire’s circa 600,000 residents and are looking forward to working with the local community to promote the benefits of the scheme.

“Similar to many of our projects in the UK and around the world, we are already working to set up a community fund which would be used for a variety of projects within Gloucestershire which might include grants for local sport and youth groups and helping to fund environmental education schemes or nature conservation projects.

“However, we are still quite early on in the process and aren’t in a position to confirm details yet.

“We will be talking to the nearest parish councils soon to discuss how this fund could be managed and the benefits it could bring the local community.

“The Javelin Park project will create around 300 jobs during construction, and once the facility is up and running, not only will 40 people will be employed to operate the facility but we will set up an apprenticeship scheme to will help develop candidates from the neighbouring areas.”