STANDING ROOM ONLY AT PACKED INCINERATOR MEETING

PRESS RELEASE: STANDING ROOM ONLY AT PACKED INCINERATOR MEETING

Over 90 people attended a public meeting in Stroud on Thursday organised by anti-incinerator group Community R4C. Interested locals had to stand in the door ways to hear the group speak about its long-running fight against Gloucestershire’s waste incinerator at Javelin Park. The group, which is engaged in a current lawsuit against the county council, claims the plant is unlawful, polluting and bad value for money. The group says that there has been £150M of illegal State Aid which can be reclaimed from the contractor for the County, protecting other vital local services. “We are challenging the incinerator in several ways” says Tom Jarman, one of the directors of Community R4C. “Firstly we are saying that the contract was awarded unlawfully because the council secretly agreed to a 30% price rise and then tried to hush it up. But it also contravenes waste regulations and we have asked the Environment Agency to issue a stop order.” Mr Jarman invited people in Gloucestershire to financially support the group’s legal battle. “Our work should result in the recovery of £150M for local taxpayers and stopping incineration of recyclable material in Gloucestershire. Our High Court challenge is a key step in this, and we are inviting further investment to add to the tens of thousands we have already got pledges for from our fantastic supporters.” The community group is also asking local citizens if they think they have been a victim of wrongdoing at the Council, which resulted in this secret and illegal incinerator contractor. They have invited all to sign via its website a letter to Gloucestershire police under the victims right of review scheme following an investigation by Wiltshire and Gloucestershire police into the conduct of the Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Council. ENDS