Firing up Noise warning ahead of incinerator tests
PEOPLE living near Javelin Park incinerator have been told to prepare for loud noises and a plume of steam as testing site begins.
Contractors Urbaser Balfour Beatty sent a three-page letter to people who live close to the site explaining what they can expect as the burner is fired up.
The multi-million pound development, near junction 12 of the M5, was expected to start dealing with the county’s waste from June 10.
This has now been pushed back by a couple of weeks with Stroud District Council and Gloucester City Councils using the facility from June 30.
They will be followed by other local authorities from July 8.
Before then, locals have been told hot commissioning, which makes sure the systems work properly, could cause some disruption.
The letter said: “After this happens, the first batch of waste will enter the system.
“Up until the facility is fully operational in summer 2019, there will be occasional loud noises, which sound similar to when you bleed a radiator,
and plumes of steam as the first combustion gases are pushed through the ducting to test all systems.”
Anti-waste incinerator campaigners argue there are cheaper, safer ways to dispose of waste.
In January, activists closed the roads outside the site and burned fake money at its main entrance.
But Gloucestershire County Council insists it will save taxpayers £100million over the next 25 years.
A county council spokesman said: “As part of Urbaser Balfour Beatty’s ongoing commissioning process, and before the Energy from Waste facility becomes fully operational later in the summer, the plant will begin receiving and burning some of the county’s residual waste, in line with timings set by UBB.”
“The Energy from Waste facility will efficiently combust 190,000 tonnes of waste a year - providing electricity to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes. The facility is still value for money - and will save taxpayers £100 million over the next 25 years.”
In December, it was revealed the incinerator will cost at least £102million more than the £500million expected when negotiations began five years ago.