At a public meeting last on Thursday 20th November, residents of Weymouth and Portland vowed to fight on against the plans for a waste incinerator at Portland Port.
Although legal bids to stop the huge plant being built have reached their conclusion, a packed meeting, which included musician and activist Billy Bragg, pledged to continue their campaign, and to both oppose a new application by Powerfuel Portland threatening to burn potentially hazardous waste [1], and to begin ‘citizen science’ air quality monitoring.
The Thursday meeting, organised by the Stop Portland Incinerator Campaign at Portland Social Club, was standing-room-only, with well over 100 residents of Weymouth, Portland and surrounding areas. They were joined by local MP, Lloyd Hatton and possible next steps for the campaign were discussed. A large demonstration to be held at Portland Port on Saturday 17th January were among actions tabled.
“I have serious concerns around the change of permit for the waste,” said Lloyd Hatton MP of a last-minute application to include hazardous waste to be burned. “I will be submitting my response to the Environment Agency and will make it clear what we think of this.”
“The deadline for the EA consultation is 18th December, and I don’t think there will be any work on the ground at the site until the EA decision in Spring. I will also appeal the decision with the Secretary of State. Without the additional, widened waste permit, I don’t think the incinerator is viable,” said Mr Hatton, urging campaigners to begin monitoring air quality so any emissions can be compared with the clean air Portland enjoys.
The Stop Portland Incinerator Campaign pledged to do all it can to convince potential investors into the incinerator – a scheme already labelled by scientists as environmentally destructive – to take their money elsewhere. It was confirmed that a group will be set up to instigate an air quality monitoring system, which will gather a baseline picture of air quality in the area.
Billy Bragg pledged to help raise money for monitoring devices, which are believed to cost as much as £20,000, and there was a pledge from Councillor Clare Sutton to push for the County Council itself to install remote air quality monitoring. The data would ensure that those running the incinerator will have their ‘feet held to the fire’ against the promises they have made and will be accountable at the time, and in the future, for the effects of any extra air pollution created.
The announcement of a ‘show of strength’ mass public action at the Port on January 17th 2026 had almost unanimous support from the meeting. It will give members of the community the opportunity to express their anger at the way the project has proceeded in the face of huge public opposition at grassroots level, as well as local and national democratic representatives. “This incinerator isn’t something that is simply ‘happening,’ ” said Etienne Stott, Olympic gold medalist and Portland resident. “This is something that is being done to us, against our will.”
Among other campaigning ideas suggested by the meeting were a cultural event featuring songs and poetry, and sampling fish and shellfish caught in the area around the port for pollutants. The sense of public anger and frustration were palpable. People from across the communities potentially affected were forthright in their criticism of Powerfuel’s recent application to the Environment Agency to allow them to burn waste from chemical processes, land from contaminated sites among other potentially toxic ‘fuel’ sources [2].
Jill Johnstone of the Stop Portland Incinerator Campaign said, “We knew tonight’s meeting would be passionate and powerful and it has delivered. People from around here are not giving up, there is plenty of road left to run and there are lots of creative ways for people to express their determination that this incinerator never gets built.”
