Minister dismisses council leader’s incinerator concerns

The government has rejected a complaint from a council leader concerning a proposed waste incinerator. Nick Ireland, the leader of Dorset Council, conveyed “deep disappointment” regarding the Portland Port scheme in an open letter addressed to government ministers in October. His letter sought a meeting to deliberate on the plan and to explore future avenues for reducing carbon emissions. Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali responded by stating that the government possessed “no further jurisdiction” on the matter, having already granted approval for the power-generating plant in September. She further wrote: “Whilst I appreciate your invitation to talk in more detail on this issue, I hope you will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for ministers or officials to comment further on the reasons for the decision or the merits of the scheme.” The government had, in September, upheld an appeal that challenged the council’s initial refusal of planning permission. In his correspondence, Ireland characterized the decision as a “retrograde step of monumental proportions”. He also noted that the intensity of local opposition to the scheme was “striking”. Referencing BBC research concerning incinerator pollution, he asserted that the government had “knee-capped” Dorset’s net zero emission target. The council leader described the minister’s response as “disappointing”. He further stated: “The government appears to have now washed its hands of this serious concern, stating that neither the [Planning] Inspector nor the Secretary of State has any further role in the matter.” He also mentioned: “My suggestion to look at carbon capture methods to mitigate the incinerator’s emissions was also ignored.” Dorset Council, he affirmed, “… will continue to look at ways we can try to stop this unwanted development from proceeding.”” In October, campaigners initiated legal proceedings aimed at reversing the decision, which the incinerator operator, Powerfuel Portland, stated would be “robustly defended”. The £150 million facility is slated to burn household, commercial, and skip waste. The company indicated its capacity to process up to 202,000 tonnes of waste annually, generating sufficient energy to supply approximately 30,000 homes.