Campaigners launch legal challenge to get Portland waste incinerator decision overturned
The Stop Portland Waste Incinerator group will file a case in the High Court
Last updated 18th Oct 2024
Campaigners on Portland are mounting a legal challenge against a waste incinerator for the island.
The facility, planned for land on Portland Port, was given the green light by the government last month, despite initially being refused by Dorset Council.
The Stop Portland Waste Incinerator group has now raised enough money to take the decision to a judicial review.
Portland resident, Laura Baldwin told us: “We feel very dumped upon and like our democracy doesn’t matter.
“We had so many consultations where we put forward clear reasons why we're against it, so then for one parliamentary representative to go against an entire community just seems deeply unjust.”
New research has found burning household rubbish to make electricity is now the dirtiest way the UK generates power.
Plastic is made of fossil fuels and burning it, rather than burying it in landfill, produces high levels of greenhouse gases.
A study uncovered that waste incinerators produces the same amount of greenhouse gases for each unit of energy as coal power.
Council leader, Nick Ireland fears Dorset will never meet its carbon reduction target if a waste incinerator goes up on Portland,
Campaigners fear winds blowing the incinerator plume across to Weymouth, Lulworth and the Jurassic Coast. Damaging the environment.
Laura said: “Most of the population on Portland live above the chimney and we also have clouds that hover above the top of the Island, so when that's in place, it will be holding pollution closer to the ground.”
According to reports, the chimney at the incinerator will be in use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The same report found that waste incinerators are 10 times more likely to be built in areas of deprivation which Ms Baldwin believes is because local communities would have “less funds to fight the decision”.
She added: “We have really disproven that so far raising tens of thousands of pounds to challenge the decision and we have so much support from angry and anxious local residents who are just desperate to do something.”
There are currently 57 fully operational waste incinerators in the UK with more being planned.
This is despite expert saying the current practice of the burning of waste for energy and building more and more incinerators for this purpose is at odds with our desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Powerfuel Portland say the incinerator will help deal with Dorset’s waste while producing energy for the grid.
Dorset Council response
Meanwhile, Dorset Council have confirmed they won't be taking legal action against the decision to approve the incinerator.
Leader Cllr Nick Ireland said:
“It is extremely disappointing that the Secretary of State did not agree with the views of our Planning committee, Planning officers, and thousands of Dorset residents, when Government overturned our decision to reject the Portland incinerator.
“Having reviewed the Planning Inspectorate’s report, we considered whether to mount a legal challenge. But this was only likely to be successful if we could show that Government’s decision had not been reached in a lawful way.
“Regrettably, following expert advice from independent legal counsel, we will not be taking legal action. We simply cannot justify spending an exorbitant amount of taxpayers’ money on a challenge we have been told would likely fail in court.
“Dorset Council remains opposed to the incinerator, and we will fight the Secretary of State’s decision with every remaining tool at our disposal. We will also continue to stand firm alongside the Portland and Dorset residents who oppose the burning of waste on the Jurassic coastline for environmental, economic, and health reasons.”