Dorset Council leader 'disappointed' with Deputy PM letter on Portland incinerator
Cllr Nick Ireland wrote to Angela Rayner calling for a rethink on the plans
The government's being accused of "washing its hands" of people's concerns over plans to build a waste incinerator on Portland.
Dorset Council refused the application, but Whitehall reversed the decision when the developers appealed.
Council leader Nick Ireland says he's 'disappointed' with the response he's received after writing to the Deputy Prime Minister to complain.
Cllr Ireland says his reply came from Rushanara Ali MP on Angela Rayner's behalf.
He hasn't revealed the content of the letter, but in a statement, the Dorset Council leader said:
“Needless to say, I am disappointed with the response. The government appears to have now washed its hands of this serious concern, stating that neither the Inspector nor the Secretary of State has any further role in the matter. My suggestion to look at carbon capture methods to mitigate the incinerator’s emissions was also ignored.
“As shown from the scale of this weekend’s demonstration, the people of Portland clearly do not welcome this incinerator. Dorset Council stands by its original Planning decision to refuse this application, and we will continue to look at ways we can try to stop this unwanted development from proceeding.”
The company Powerfuel Portland says the latest technology will be used to capture emissions.
Protesters against the incinerator gathered on Weymouth seafront on Saturday (16th November).