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Elderley widow unable to sell her house because of proposed incinerator

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/9758091.print/

10:51am Wednesday 13th June 2012

By Chris Warne

AN ELDERLEY widow who lives in Little Haresfield says she has been unable to sell her house because Gloucestershire County Council plans to build a mass burn incinerator nearby.

As a result of ill-health, 81-year-old Jo Marsden decided to put her four-bedroom property up for sale in January so she could move closer to her daughter, who lives in Somerset.

However, she says potential buyers have been put off purchasing her converted bungalow because GCC intends to locate an incinerator less than a mile away at Javelin Park.

“I had a mini stroke before Christmas and that set alarm bells ringing,” said Mrs Marsden, a former primary school teacher.

“I was not able to shop for myself and I was having to rely on the support of my neighbours so I decided it was time to move.

“I put the house on the market and I have had about five or six different people come round to look at it.

“One lady who was very keen said she would make an offer but when she found out about the incinerator she changed her mind. She had three little daughters and she did not want to expose them to it.”

Although Mrs Marsden is likely to see a significant reduction in the value of her home if planning permission for the waste burning facility is granted, she has been told she will not be entitled to any compensation.

Her house is still up for sale but she said no-one looks around it anymore.

Mrs Marsden who moved into her current residence in 1984 has accused GCC of ignoring the views of local residents.

“I am very unhappy because the county council has not listened to us. We have formed GlosVAIN and had demonstrations but they just do not listen.”

Mrs Marsden added: “I do not want to be portrayed as a little old lady who can’t sleep, because I am a fighter. I have spent a lot of time writing to the county council and I will continue to fight this.”

A spokesman for Urbaser Balfour Beatty, the company hoping to build in the incinerator, said: “While we are not in a position to comment on individual cases, it is normal to have a period of uncertainty around proposed developments while the planning application is being considered.

The spokesman added: “Potential impacts on surrounding villages have been taken into account in the planning application. The facility will be constructed and operated according to best practice guidelines.”

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