Power station jobs may not go to locals
CONCERNS have been raised that new jobs set to be created at Doncaster's planned clean coal power station could go abroad.
Powerfuels' multi-million pound development next to Hatfield Colliery in Stainforth is set to go ahead later this year after the European Union backed a 175 million grant towards the scheme. And Doncaster Council has just given its backing for a 400KW overhead power station which will carry the electricity from Stainforth to a power sub-station at Thorpe Marsh.
But in a reference to a dispute over foreign labour which hit Total's Lindsey oil refinery, Coun Mick Jameson, a member of the planning committee which backed the scheme, said: "I hope we take positive action to make sure it's local people and we're not inviting our European colleagues in the way that has caused major problems at refineries not far from here.
"There are concerns in the local community that the majority of those being employed are not going to be local.
"I see jobs are being created. My concern is that labour may come from abroad and fill positions that could have been filled by people from Doncaster. That causes concern in the local community.
"Will it favour the local people who put up with the problems it will create? We should be ensuring jobs go to locals and I think it is legitimate for politicians like myself to raise this concern."
Powerfuels, which is owned by local businessman Richard Budge, confirmed there would be local apprenticeships created at the new power station, and added the firm had specifically targeted three local recruitment agencies to help it find staff.
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