One of the most controversial projects in New Hanover County is the proposed cement plant along the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River.

There are five candidates vying for three seats on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Local radio station reporter, WHQR’s Catherine Welch talked with one of the candidates about where he stands on the issue.

Jonathan Barfield Jr says his opposition to the Carolinas Cement Company plant centres on concerns about mercury emissions to a part of the county that’s more populated now than 20 years ago when the last cement plant there shut down. And Barfield says there are too many residents across New Hanover County concerned about the proposed plant to endorse the project.

"It’s real. There are a lot of people here that live in the Castle Hayne area as well as the people that live in our county that are concerned about this issue. I would be concerned, and I would say listen, let’s hold off for a minute let’s take a look at this whole entire picture."

Barfield says he would look for a way to repeal the US$4.2m incentives county commissioners awarded the cement company last April.

Staff in the New Hanover County legal department says the board of commissioners cannot repeal the incentives for Titan America. The most the board can do is write a letter asking to be released from the agreement.