Rugeley Power Station: New jobs lifeline for staff
Dozens of workers from the ill-fated Rugeley Power Station are expected to apply for 40 new jobs being created at a nearby energy plant.
The posts will be up for grabs at the controversial £165 million waste-to-energy facility being built at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster.
Many applications are expected from the Wyre Forest area and also from the doomed power station.
The incinerator in Hartlebury is expected to deal with 200,000 tons of waste each year from across Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Some villagers objected to planning permission for the plant but approval was given. Worcestershire County Council officials say that it will save taxpayers money on the cost of waste being sent to landfill sites.
When it becomes fully operational early next year the EnviRecover plant will generate electricity to the National Grid and it is expected to produce enough to power up to 20,000 homes.
It is also expected to considerably reduce the county's reliance on landfill sites.
Dan Bisset, from Astute Technical Recruitment, which is working with Severn Waste Services, a joint venture between FCC and Urbaser, is carrying out interviews to supply operations, maintenance and administrative staff.
He said: "We are recruiting for the whole operation from senior managers to operations technicians, maintenance technicians, office staff, environmental and weighbridge workers.
"We are managing the job recruitment for the whole plant from managers to reception staff.
"Job applications are being sought for the various posts and those recruited will help in the commissioning of the plant to ensure there is a smooth handover.
"There are a lot of people from the Kidderminster area who are expected to show an interest in the jobs as well as from the plant in Staffordshire, which is closing down.
"This number of jobs is good news for the area. The plant marks the way the power world is going and stepping away from the use of coal to new technologies."
Earlier this week, The Green Party's Natalie Bennet urged the Government to think of green alternatives when looking at future schemes for Rugeley Power Station.
The Government's planning minister, Greg Clark, had already vowed that there would be no 'unnecessary delays' in redeveloping the station.
But it could be at least five years before the area is back in use again, with demolition and decontamination works set to take three years alone.
Anyone wanting to apply for jobs advertised on the company's website are asked to call Dan Bisset on 02392 221 600.
