Mine plan brings jobs boost (From Warrington Guardian)

Mine plan brings jobs boost

MORE than 30 jobs could be created at a hazardous waste facility at Winsford Rock Salt Mine by the end of the year.

And Minosus, the company behind the plans to create the facility, says it is also set to award the construction contract to a local company within a matter of weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott granted planning permission for the scheme a fortnight ago and if Minosus is successful in obtaining an Integrated Prevention of Pollution Control (IPPC) certificate from the Environment Agency, then construction could start in June this year.

Minosus managing director Roger Shaw confirmed that his company would begin recruiting the first office and laboratory staff for 35 new jobs expected to start around the end of 2004.

He said: "We have always looked forward to the day when the project could start to give real benefits back to the area and that is not too far away now.

"We also welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that the commitments we have made on environmental protection will be kept"

Minosus says it is also planning to take advantage of the landfill tax credit scheme, which will enable it to divert part of the tax it will collect on the waste it handles into an environmental trust.

Local organisations will then be able to apply to the trust for funding for approved community projects."