A DECISION on the Portland waste to energy incinerator is expected once Parliament returns from its summer break in September.

An outcome from the public inquiry held on Portland in the run up to Christmas 2023 had been expected in January, but never happened.

Since then the Government has announced a consultation into waste to energy plants, due to end in early August, and the country has been distracted by local Government and then national elections.

Rumours circulating on the Island on Friday claim that a decision has been made – in favour of Powerfuel.

This had been sparked by an Environment Agency consultation, which runs until August 11th, over whether or not the agency should grant an environmental operating permit to the incinerator business.

A spokesman for the agency confirmed today (Friday) that the consultation is not linked to the Planning Inspectorate decision.

Said a spokesperson : “The public inquiry is a separate issue, and is as a result of Dorset Council refusing planning permission for the incinerator. The consultation that the Environment Agency is running is into whether or not an environmental permit can be granted for the incinerator to operate. Planning permission and environmental permits are considered entirely independently of each other, but both are needed in order for the facility to operate.

 “When deciding upon environmental permits, we look at different issues from those considered by a local authority which decides on planning permission. We do not know what the likely outcome of the planning inquiry will be, but must decide on the environmental permit regardless of the inquiry.”

The Planning Inspectorate website confirms that a decision has not yet been made, with a spokeman confirming that the Inspector’s report is now with the new Secretary of State.

It is thought that the Inspector’s findings, which are unknown, will be considered, with the help of Civil Servant advisors, over the summer period when Parliament is not sitting, with an announcement expected by the third week in September.

That decision is likely to have to wait until after mid-August when the waste to energy consultation started by the previous Government concludes.

Whatever the decision there will be a short period following the announcement when the Secretary of State can be legally challenged.

Powerfuel did not respond to an invitation to comment on the latest consultation.

Island councillors Paul Kimber and Rob Hughes both said there were surprised by the Environment Agency consultation - Cllr Kimber pointing out that all Dorset councils were against the incinerator along with almost everyone on the island.

Cllr Hughes said the first he knew of the consultation was when a friend sent him a link, which he had since shared with others, including the Dorset Council leader, Cllr Nick Ireland and South Dorset’s new Labour MP Lloyd Hatton.

The full details of the consultation can be seen on the Environment Agency website – with responses welcome electronically or in writing.

The deadline for comments is one minute before midnight on Sunday, August 11th by - Visiting the online Citizen Space web page: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/dt5-1pp-powerfuel-portland-limited-a001/ Emailing the agency at: pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk Posting a response to : Environment Agency Permitting and Support Centre, Land Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WF.

The Agency ask that the application number EPR/AP3304SZ/A001 should be included in any correspondence.