Dorset Council has told KeeP 106 that the Council leader, Cllr Nick Ireland, has written to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Raynor, expressing his disappointment following the government’s decision to allow the Portland incinerator to go ahead despite much local opposition.
Cllr Ireland’s letter reads as follows:
“Dear Deputy Prime Minister,
I would like to take the opportunity to express my deep disappointment at the recent decision by government to grant permission for the proposed incinerator on the edge of Portland Port.
The strength of local feeling in opposition to this is striking, and there is a strong feeling that government has pushed this through without thinking through the consequences to the residents of Dorset who live in the vicinity and beyond of this proposed facility.
The recent BBC analysis on the burning of household waste in large incinerators signified that it is now the dirtiest way that the UK generates power. Given that as a nation we have binding emissions targets, coupled with our own ambitious plans to decarbonise Dorset, this feels like a retrograde step of monumental proportions. As I said when recently questioned on this issue, the proposed incinerator has knee-capped our own net zero ambitions.
I can understand the commitment to unlock investment, create jobs and to kickstart the economy which has been well trailed by the government as a key priority. However, I would question the number of jobs that this incinerator will create, and additionally the potential impact on tourism and our wider environment will almost certainly offset any direct employment. The whole decision feels forced, ill-thought through and is one of a number of recent decisions by government that seem to ignore the needs and requirements of the residents of Portland.
That said, I noted with some interest the recent government announcement on its investment into carbon capture across Merseyside and Teesside. Given that this investment is built upon the Climate Change Committee’s advice that carbon capture technologies are significant growth areas as part of the wider low carbon transition, I would strongly urge that if you are not prepared to change your mind on this decision, that a government commitment to mitigate the harmful emissions from this incinerator should be part of a package that ensures communities in Dorset can benefit from investment in the same way that these northern industrial heartlands are.
However, notwithstanding the potential for carbon capture, I along with Dorset Council and a number of partners, will 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. I would welcome the opportunity to talk in more detail on this issue, as it is of such importance to our residents in South Dorset and beyond.
Yours sincerely,
Nick Ireland
Leader Dorset Council”
Cllr Nick Ireland