Hundreds march against Portland incinerator in Weymouth

Hundreds of people of all ages gathered at the Jubilee Clock on the seafront on Saturday, to hear speeches by local councillors including Weymouth Mayor Jon Orrell and Portland councillor Paul Kimber. 

Protesters then proceeded to march through the town centre - down St Mary Street and St Thomas Street - holding placards and chanting, demanding a stop to the incinerator plans. Previous demonstrations have been on Portland but it was decided to bring this protest to Weymouth in a bid to raise the campaign's profile further amid a forthcoming legal challenge.

People are concerned for a number of reasons including fears about the impact on the environment and tourism, the incinerator's position on the acclaimed Jurassic Coast, and the amount of lorries that would travel through the area.

It was a huge turnout on Saturday - with almost 1,000 people attending according to estimates.

Hundreds marched the streets of Weymouth against Portland incinerator (Image: Cristiano Magaglio) Planning permission for the waste to energy plant at Portland Port was controversially given the go-ahead by the government in September despite fierce opposition.

The plan was initially refused by Dorset Council, prompting an appeal - and a public inquiry.

This sparked a huge community backlash with members of the public expressing fears 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

Amongst those concerned is Weymouth local Jackie Isbell who attended the protest with her partner Johnny Calvino. 

Johnny Calvino and Jackie Isbell at Portland waste incinerator protest (Image: NQ) She said: "We’ve got to stop it for our kids. I’ve got grandkids that live at Wyke and it’s their future at the end of the day. We're worried because where is all the ash going to go?

"We’re hoping the government will stop and listen to the people."

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.

Ian Dyke, who lives on Portland, has been voicing his opposition to the incinerator since the initial plans were announced and is "gutted" over the government's decision.

Ian Dyke, dressed in costume, with placard symbolising polluting effect of the incinerator (Image: NQ) He said: "It's been going on for many years now. We thought we managed to stop it but now it has been announced it’s going to go ahead.

"We’re really gutted. We don’t want CO2 or heavy metal pollution and there could be microplastics floating out.

"I have grandchildren and I don’t’ want their health to be damaged when they come here. It needs to be stopped."

Opponents also claim that marine and plant life could be harmed and that the plant would be detrimental to the local tourism economy.

A recent 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. 

READ MORE: Campaigners' legal action against Portland waste incinerator

Angela Sibley, from Dorchester, works to promote the campaign and said that the local community have "massively supported it."

Angela Sibley with artwork depicting the damaging effects of pollution (Image: NQ) She said: "The Portland area is greatly dumped on. It has been treated with great disrespect like what happened with the barge which terribly divided the community. Now it’s the incinerator - it’s like there’s no regard for the people of Portland.

"This type of incinerator is one of the worst most serious forms of air pollution there is. It’s therefore wholly inappropriate to go ahead."

She added: "The site has great beauty and is a natural environment which very precious.

"This is only the beginning of a campaign that will show that local people are not having this."

Amongst those also in attendance were members of the Great Britain Sailing Team, including Paris 2024 Olympic medallists Ellie Aldridge and Emma Wilson who are both from Portland. 

GB Sailing Team at Portland waste incinerator protest (Image: Laura Baldwin) Ellie Aldridge won gold in kitesurfing and Emma Wilson won two bronze medals in windsurfing. 

The Stop Portland Waste Incinerator (SPWI) campaign group acting through Debbie Tulett, who is represented by law firm Leigh Day, has filed a legal claim challenging the decision to grant planning permission.

READ MORE: Campaigners in legal challenge to Portland incinerator

The group has so far managed to raise £70,000 to support the legal challenge. 

While there is uncertainty surrounding the timescales of the legal challenge the group says it will receive a permission decision on the papers within a couple of months. A final hearing is expected to be within six to nine months if permission is granted. 

Weymouth Town Council has also agreed to contribute £2,000 to support Stop Portland Waste Incinerator’s legal challenge.

Laura Baldwin, former Olympic sailor, works with Stop Portland Waste Incinerator to support the legal challenge and was "overwhelmed" by how many attended the protest. 

She said: "We’re hoping the government is going to take note and call a moratorium on new and unbuilt waste incinerators so that would actually stop Portland Waste incinerator in its tracks.

Laura Baldwin at Portland waste incinerator protest (Image: Laura Baldwin) "We've done a few protests in Portland already so we chose to shift the focus to Weymouth as it will also be affected as they will be able to see Portland across the water.

"There is more people here so we could get more visibility.

"I’m overjoyed seeing the strength of the community here today including the British sailing team that have shown up against it."