CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a waste to energy plant on Portland have been rejected by Dorset councillors.

The unanimous vote came after a day-long debate which heard environmental concerns, criticism of Dorset Council officers and the short-comings of the county's waste disposal services.

Cllr Belinda Rideout in the dying minutes of the debate summed up the view of many: "It will disrupt the whole setting, for visitors and our own experience of our coastline.

"It will be an unwanted dinosaur on the Jurassic Coast."

Opening the hearing Paul Cotterill from the Stop Portland Waste Incinerator campaign said that all of the waste coming to the site would have to travel across the county, passing schools, houses and shops on the way.

He said it was likely to result in a lorry every nine minutes, often heavily laden, making their way up either Boot Hill or Lanehouse Rocks Road, the first one of the most polluted roads in the area, the second with a difficult turn and narrow route to the next roundabout.

He said that with one road on and one road off the island the development made no sense.

“If there has to be an incinerator it should be located close to the source of the waste,” he said.

Dorset Highways officer Steve Savage told the meeting that it had not objected on traffic grounds because the likely increase would only be 3 per cent at worst.

Much was made during the day of the plant being able to provide shore side power to visiting cruise ships as well as power to local prisons.

Tony Dobbs questioned whether the 15MW of power likely to be generated would be enough for more than one cruise ship.

He also warned that emissions from the plant would, at times, get trapped by atmospheric conditions, with the stack of 80metres well below residential properties above it around the Verne.

“This is hardly at attractive prospect” he said.

Diana Fowler said she failed to see any benefits at all of the plant for Dorset and said that to put the area’s clean, green, land and sea at risk made no sense.

She said there was no need for the facility on Portland and said that shore power for cruise ships could be provided in a shorter time by connecting up to the national grid.

“This incinerator does not support growth. It is a dis-amenity,” she said.

Weymouth councillor John Orrell said the area already suffered worse than average health with pollution linked to increased strokes, dementia and other conditions.

“It’s outrageous that this power station will be in the middle of that. It’s just wrong…if this is approved this will do immeasurable harm to our population. The most deprived people in Dorset will be harmed by this proposal,” he said.

Gerry Hind said he worried about the effects on residents who would almost be at eye level to the chimney stack and the effect on 1,000 acres of Portland which was registered as sites of special scientific interest.

Wyke Regis councillor Kate Wheller described the plant as ‘caterpillar like’ needing more and more food to keep growing with the cost of the increased risk of pollution to local residents.

Portland councillor Rob Hughes spoke of the effect on the environment, local views and the tourism industry.

“Do we want to be the council which loses the Jurassic Coast its World Heritage status…it would be irresponsible to allow this to go ahead.

“It must be the residents and communities of South Dorset whose health, wellbeing and voices should be considered first and foremost before profit for the few.”