The Stop Portland Waste Incinerator campaign has announced that they have lost the case taken to the High Court appealing against the government decision that overturned Dorset Council’s unanimous refusal of Powerfuel Portland’s waste incinerator planning application.
Debbie Tulett who headed up the SPWI campaign says that she has asked her legal team to cost up for an appeal. Debbie said:
“We cannot quit before the final hurdle. Our last chance is to take it to the Court of Appeal.
“I am really very sorry to have to say, that it is with much sadness that I have to tell you all that the Judgement for the Statutory Review went against us and we lost the case. I am very disappointed that the Judge was unable to see that the planned waste incinerator does not comply with our county’s waste plan and ruled in favour of the incinerator.
“We do have one final chance left on the legal challenge side of things and that is to try and get our case heard at the Court of Appeal, which instead of being heard by only one person (as with the Planning Inspector, the Secretary of State and the Judge), the decision is made by three Judges. As I understand it, we need to register that we intend to appeal within the next few days and have 21 days for our legal team to put the case together for grounds for permission to be heard at the Court of Appeal.
“From all that was said to me by everyone I spoke to before the Statutory Review, I believe that the majority of those who are opposed to the incinerator would like us to fight to the bitter end and therefore I have asked our legal team to prepare to request a Court of Appeal hearing. Therefore, I am sorry to have to ask one more time, but we would be so very, very grateful for any donations, as our fundraising campaign has restarted, using the same bank account and Just Giving account, but I will re-post all the details later today.
“After nearly 6 years of full-time fighting against the waste incinerator, I am not ready to throw in the towel yet, I do not want to back down on our opposition to the Powerfuel waste incinerator until all avenues have been expended, so I really that hope you are in agreement that we should fight Powerfuel’s proposal until the very end.”
Olympic sailor and local Portland resident, Laura Baldwin commented saying:
“This is deeply upsetting news but I still hold hopes that a waste incinerator will not be built at Portland Port. It is clear that it is no longer a financially attractive investment with the upcoming inclusion in the emissions trading scheme making it very much more expensive to burn waste and due to diminishing feed stock thanks to the government commitment to transition to a circular economy. Cruise ships will be attracted to ports that can offer zero emission ship-to-shore power which Portland wouldn’t be able to, as energy from waste is as polluting as coal. With PortWind looking set to go ahead, the comparatively tiny 15MW produced by an incinerator is simply not required.”
