Village votes down Strabag cement plant

Residents of the tiny village of Bukkosd (SW Hungary) have rejected in a local referendum on Sunday construction firm Strabag’s plan to build a HUF 27bn cement factory nearby.

Although the factory promised to create jobs as well as generate tax revenue for the village, there were also fears it would cause environmental damage, with half of the cement produced at the site being delivered across the village.

Around 70 per cent of the residents voted in the referendum defeating the plan by 423 to 293.

Strabag, a subsidiary of BAU Holding AG of Austria, announced the project last December, prompting protests from environmental groups and locals.