County Council Leader Mark Hawthorne has praised BASF Metals Recycling in a speech to mark the opening of their new plantin Forest Vale, Cinderford.  The new plant, guarantees the jobs of existing workers, and provides some new jobs.  BASF Metals Recycling, formerly called Engelhard, recycles engine catalysts to recover metals such as platinum. 

Cllr Hawthorne, commented:

"It was a great honour to be asked to speak at the opening of BASF metals recycling in Cinderford.  Having the world's largest chemical company investing in
Cinderford is a great mark of confidence in the town."

Notes to Editors

Cllr Hawthorne's speech (check against delivery):

"Great pleasure to be here today with BASF in Cinderford today, and it is also great to be playing a very small part in a new chapter for a very successful Cinderford business and a new chapter in a very successful multinational business.

First an apology for absence - Mark Harper MP, who is unable to join us today, has asked me to pass on his very best wishes for the continuing success of BASF Metals Recycling.

One of my pledges, when I was elected as council leader, was to hold every other meeting of the council's Cabinet outside Shire Hall.

Among the reasons for that pledge was that it gives me the opportunity to host a business breakfast beforehand – and to talk face to face to the key local enterprises across the county.

One of the risks for councils is that they forget about businesses in their areas.  They don't tend to shout as loudly as other sectors – but, ultimately, it is the wealth generated by businesses that pays for everything else. 

I was really pleased that Dr Setchfield was able to come along to my business breakfast in Cinderford this time last year and tell me a bit about the work that is done here. 

I must confess that, before that, I hadn't heard of Engelhart, or BASF's role in the county.

I think that is something that is quite common for a lot of our successful businesses in Gloucestershire, particularly in the manufacturing and the technical sectors. 

They can be some of the most respected businesses in their sectors, with a great reputation with their customers, and doing leading edge work, like BASF, but they can be overlooked by local media and if we're not careful, by local decision makers.

So, it's great to be here, not just to join in the celebration of all of your hard work and success – but because it gives us all a great opportunity to shine a light on your successes to the rest of our community.

Talking about our community, I am really pleased to be in Cinderford today.  It is great to see that BASF, the largest chemical company in the world, agrees with Gloucestershire County Council about what a great place Cinderford is for businesses.

That is true now – but it is going to be even more so in the future.  I think there is a spirit of optimism in the town, certainly there is a great spirit of co-operation, between the local MP, the county and district councils, the town council and local businesses to work together to bring about real regeneration.

Cinderford could well become a county centre for education – particularly with Gloucestershire College's plans for a University Technical College – as well as a range of other plans to help bring in new businesses – and to support existing successful businesses.

Cinderford is an exciting place to be at the minute – and it is always a great pleasure to have an excuse to visit again.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a genuine pleasure to join you all in at a company which is a genuine Gloucestershire success story, in a town which is also heading towards becoming a similar Gloucestershire success story.  Many thanks for inviting me – I wish you every continuing success for the future."

Please note this press release
is issued on behalf of Gloucestershire Conservative Group and does not
necessarily represent the views of Gloucestershire County Council.