Green Light For Gloucestershire Incinerator

7 January 2015, 10:36 | Updated: 7 January 2015, 13:39

A controversial incinerator near Gloucester has been given planning permission.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has given the green light to the £500million facility despite the county council rejecting the plans originally.

The developers Urbaser Balfour Beatty were awarded the contract in 2013, planning permission was rejected by the council and a public inquiry followed.

The people behind the scheme say the 30 acre site will treat up to 190,000 tonnes of waste a year and save us 150 million pounds over the next 25 years.

Campaigners were against the incinerator because of the environmental impacts along with it's size, location and cost.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, cabinet member for waste, said: “Today’s decision means the rubbish we can’t recycle can be disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

“Our aim is to reach 70 per cent recycling across the county and stop burying waste in the ground completely. As well as this new facility, Gloucestershire will also be using anaerobic digestion to treat food waste and recycling more. This all takes us a huge step closer.”

Cllr Nigel Moor, chair of planning committee, said: “The committee robustly defended its decision to an independent inspector at the public inquiry last year. However, we acknowledge today’s announcement.”

The decision still needs to be looked at in full but UBB is expected to start construction as soon as possible.