Minister rebuffs council leader's incinerator plea

Council leader Nick Ireland said the campaign against the incinerator would continue

A council leader's complaint about a proposed waste incinerator has been rebuffed by the government.

Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland expressed "deep disappointment" over the Portland Port scheme in an open letter to ministers in October.

He requested a meeting to discuss the plan as well as to investigate opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in the future.

In reply, Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali said the government had "no further jurisdiction", having approved the power-generating plant in September.

She 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."

In September, the government allowed an appeal against the council's refusal of planning permission.

In his letter, Ireland said the decision was a "retrograde step of monumental proportions".

He said the strength of local feeling against the scheme was "striking".

Hundreds of people joined a protest against the incinerator on Saturday

Citing BBC research on incinerator pollution, he said the government had "knee-capped" Dorset's net zero emission target.

The council leader said the minister's reply was "disappointing".

He added: "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.

"My suggestion to look at carbon capture methods to mitigate the incinerator’s emissions was also ignored.

"Dorset Council... will continue to look at ways we can try to stop this unwanted development from proceeding.”

In October, campaigners began legal efforts to overturn the decision. Incinerator operator Powerfuel Portland said it would be "robustly defended".

The £150m plant is due to burn household, commercial and skip waste.

The firm said it would be able to process up to 202,000 tonnes of waste each year, creating enough energy to power about 30,000 homes.