CAMPAIGNERS are hoping they can force a rethink on the controversial waste incinerator on Portland as they progress with a legal challenge.
It comes as an investigation found that the practise of incinerating much of the UK's household rubbish is just as polluting as burning coal.
The investigation, from the BBC, described burning rubbish as the UK's "dirtiest" form of power and revealed almost half all-household waste goes to industrial incinerators.
The Stop Portland Waste Incinerator (SPWI) campaign group is taking legal action against the government's decision to approve planning permission for the waste to energy plant at Portland Port.
It has secured legal representation that will be filing a case to the High Court for a Statutory Review that will be submitted by the end of next week.
A fundraising page launched by the group to cover legal costs of £40,000 has so far raised £25,000.
The plan for the waste incinerator was given the go-ahead by the Government last month after it was initially refused by Dorset Council and went to an inquiry.
This sparked a huge community backlash with many campaigners fearing that emissions from the plant and lorries travelling to the site would be damaging to health.
READ MORE: Anger mounts over waste incinerator plan for Portland
Concerns were also raised that the incinerator would be detrimental to the local tourism economy and marine and plant life could be harmed.
A spokesperson for the (SPWI) campaign group said: “We were thrilled to receive news that our legal team had found that we do have a case to get this reviewed by the High Court. The news of planning permission being granted to Powerfuel was devastating.
"We were flooded with correspondence and pledges of support from anxious and angry local residents.
"To have this chance for the new government to do the right thing an uphold Dorset Council’s decision to refuse this incinerator is of the highest importance to tens of thousands of local residents.”
South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton is among those who strongly object to the scheme.
He said: "I welcome this development (by the campaign group) and I will continue to work closely with local campaigners to oppose the proposal to build an incinerator on Portland.
"I firmly believe that building an incinerator here would be mistake, and I will continue to pursue every available avenue to reject these plans."
While he thinks the news of legal action is a "good step forward" he thinks the strong backlash has only arisen due to the fact it is so close to home, rather than the environmental risks.
He said: “We are against the whole thing but what concerns us is emphasising the fact that waste to energy incinerators are not a good thing.
“People seem to only be concerned because the incinerator would be right on their doorsteps rather than how this will impact pollution.
“We need to be reducing waste and recycling more.”
The plans were initially unveiled in November 2019 but have always been met by fierce opposition.
Powerfuel's application attracted more than 3,360 objections from members of the public, as well as Portland Town Council and Weymouth Town Council.
Residents also voiced their concerns about the plans at a public inquiry in 2023.
Powerfuel Portland has previously stated that the incinerator will not treat hazardous or clinical waste, using the latest technology and techniques to 'safely’ and ‘efficiently’ produce low carbon energy from non-recyclable waste.
Local groups Stop Portland Waste Incinerator and Jurassic Coast Against Incineration hired technical experts to evaluate Powerfuel’s proposals, and organised demonstrations in the past.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel