Gloucestershire police are reviewing the decision not to seek a criminal prosecution in relation to the county council’s decision to build the Javelin Park incinerator.

The force received a complaint earlier this year alleging there had been misconduct in public office and possible influencing of a local authority vote in 2015.

Gloucestershire Constabulary handed the complaint to neighbouring Wiltshire police to “maintain complete independence”, and Wiltshire concluded no criminal activity had taken place.

However, Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed today it is now assessing the decision not to seek a prosecution in the case after Community R4C, which proposed an alternative to building the incinerator, asked for a review.

Work on the Javelin Park project began in 2016 and the incinerator, near junction 12 of the M5, is now completed and conducting tests with some of the county’s general waste.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “Earlier this year Gloucestershire Constabulary received a complaint from a member of the public in relation to the Javelin Park incinerator project.

“The complaint alleged that there had been misconduct in public office and possible influencing of a local authority vote in 2015.

“To maintain complete independence we referred the matter to Wiltshire Police and following their enquiries they have concluded that no criminal offences have been committed.

“Gloucestershire Constabulary, in common with other police forces in the country, has a Victims’ Right to Review scheme.

“This scheme gives victims the right to ask for a review of any decision made by the police not to seek a prosecution in a case.

“A review has been requested in this case and is now being carried out.”

When the plans were first proposed, Gloucestershire County Council said the incinerator would save local taxpayers £100million over 25 years and power 25,000 homes.

The authority signed a contract with Urbaser Balfour Beatty (UBB) for the scheme in 2013.

In January, a group of protesters gathered at the site of the Javelin Park facility and burned fake money calling for an independent inquiry into the way the contract was awarded.

Earlier this month protestors gathered outside the incinerator and stopped lorries from making the first deliveries of household waste for test burning.

The county council revealed in December the rubbish burner’s cost had risen from £500million to £633million. It has insisted it will provide “value for money.”