A REPRESENTATIVE of the Department of Health answered a question from Stroud MP David Drew on the health effects of incinerators last week.

In Mr Drew’s question to the DoH on Wednesday, the shadow DEFRA minister asked the Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt, in a written question, if the results of his department's research into the health effects of incineration will be published.

In response Steve Brine MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, said: “The statement states that while it is not possible to rule out adverse health effects from modern, well-regulated municipal waste incinerators with complete certainty, any potential damage to the health of those living close by is likely to be very small, if detectable.

“Public Health England will review its advice in light of new substantial research on the health effects of incinerators published in peer reviewed journals.

“To date, PHE is not aware of any evidence that requires a change in their position statement.

“PHE is funding a study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern municipal waste incinerators affect human health.

“Papers from this project are expected to be submitted to peer reviewed journals in summer 2017, and it is likely to be a few months after submission for the papers to be published.”

Mr Drew has made his position on the incinerator at Javelin Park very clear, after being appointed a shadow minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs he said: “I remain totally opposed, and as part of my responsibilities for waste I will be urging movement away from an incinerator as the appropriate form of waste disposal.”

GCC has always held firm on its stance regarding the project.

Deputy leader of GCC Cllr Ray Theodoulou, said: "This project was initiated after a transparent public procurement process, which looked neutrally at every technology proposed, and has been repeatedly democratically agreed by the council.

"It is a good deal for residents - the incinerator will save taxpayers over £100m over its life, whilst protecting our environment by cutting CO2 emissions and ending our reliance on landfill."

In a full county council meeting in June, leader Mark Hawthorne said: “The rise in my vote share in the election is a vote from the people of Quedgeley who want us to get on with it, this is now a dead issue.”