A CONTROVERSIAL waste treatment plant under construction in Basildon has given a £6million boost to the local economy, it has been claimed.

Despite fierce criticism from campaigners and borough councillors across all politicial parties, Essex County Council passed plans for the £800million waste treatment plant in Courtauld Road, Basildon, last year.

Now constructors and operators of the plant, Urbaser Balfour Beatty, say that so far £6million has been awarded in contracts to local suppliers and companies for the construction work – but the company has not said how much work has gone to the Basildon area.

The project’s top manager also revealed just 39 per cent of the total workforce of 683 who are carrying out the construction have been recruited from Essex – and less so in Basildon.

The figures were presented by the construction phase’s general manager, Richard Lancaster, at a meeting of Basildon Council’s environment and regeneration scrutiny committee on Wednesday night.

Gavin Callaghan, Labour councillor for Pitsea North West, said: “A total of 39 per cent of staff recruited locally isn’t very much.

“At the meeting we were told when the plant was operational there would be 60 full-time jobs, but he didn’t confirm how many of them would go to locals.”