British Olympic sailing team “deeply concerned” about possible health risks from Portland incinerator
The governing body for sailing says it will monitor the health if its athletes, if the incinerator is built
Sailors on Portland say the government is jeopardising the future of Team GB's successful sailing team for the sake of a waste incinerator.
The British sailing team, who have trained on Portland since 2012, is the most decorated Olympic sailing team of all time.
But athletes fear pollution from the plant if it's built will have serious health implications and impact their desire to train.
Charlotte Leigh, who sails the two-person dingy, said: “Incinerators have a tonne for tonne conversion, so the amount of waste you incinerate, the amount of carbon that's emitted into the atmosphere so that's quite concerning and as elite sportspeople we shouldn’t be weighing up our health with our ability to train.
"A lot of us feel really passionate about this because we're training all the time and the physical aspect of the sport is still massive, we're often taking deep breathes and that's something us as sailors are concerned about."
The governing body for sailing, The Royal Yachting Association (RYA), has announced it will be researching the impact the Portland waste incinerator will have on the health of its athletes.
It comes after Olympians threatened to leave Portland should the waste incinerator be built near the Weymouth and Portland National Salisbury Academy.
However, many say it would be with a heavy heart that they would leave Portland as the Island gives them the best opportunity to compete.
Charlotte told us: “I can't think of anywhere where there is a really protected Harbor as well as a bay where there is nothing stopping the wind.
“We get all types of sea states here on Portland and it's an advantage over other countries because we can get familiar with a diverse range of conditions. That's why we're really passionate about saying something.”
Several of Olympic sailors attended a public meeting aimed at updating the local community about the waste incinerator and the campaign to try and halt it.
The RYA said it advocates for the principles of a circular economy to reduce reliance on waste combustion as a solution.
Mark Robinson, performance director at the RYA said: “We want to protect the London 2012 legacy and offer the best opportunities for future generations of our sport; however, the health of our athletes and our staff is our paramount concern right now.”
Charlotte added: “Portland is not a community that should be tossed aside or forgotten about. People should have a right to say how it's going to affect their lives and ultimately have a say in the final decision.
“We would feel so wrong to just think about it as a training venue, and we want to convey that we care about the people of Portland as this is our home too.”
Powerfuel Portland said the facility would comply with environmental and emission legislation, and hazardous or clinical waste would not be burned.
Director, Giles Frampton said: "We look forward to delivering much needed baseload power to the port, while providing a significant boost to the Dorset economy and assisting Dorset's waste authority in meeting its own obligations under the Dorset Waste Plan."
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