Hundreds gather for waste incinerator protest

Campaigners have raised concerns about pollution and health impacts

Hundreds of people have gathered to protest against controversial plans to build a waste incinerator on the Jurassic coast.

Dorset Council had opposed the plan for Portland but the developers appealed and in September the government allowed the appeal and granted planning permission.

Protesters gathered on the seafront earlier and marched through the town.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson said the decision was made "in line with the recommendation from the independent planning inspector" and the proposal "would not appear out of scale or out of place".

Several hundred people gathered for the peaceful protest

The site for the incinerator is on the north eastern corner of the Isle of Portland.

The chimney stack at the incinerator, in use 24 hours a day, would stand at 262ft (80m) tall.

Giles Frampton, director of developers Powerfuel Portland, said a four-week public inquiry in December 2023 "included extensive discussion and evidence on all planning aspects of the project".

"The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government subsequently undertook a thorough review of the Inspector's report, and agreed with its findings and conclusion, and granted planning permission," he said.

Nigel Glover said he was worried about pollution and smells

Local resident Nigel Glover said incinerators "put a lot of pollution into the atmosphere" and were "extremely smelly".

Campaigner Giovanna Lewis said she was worried about the health of local people.

"You only have to be on Portland when the weather is damp and you see the clouds hanging over our big rock and you know that those emissions won't disperse as they should do," she said.

Giovanna Lewis said it was a "social justice" fight

The decision to approve planning permission was made by Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessness, on behalf of the Secretary of State.

She said there was "not convincing evidence" the proposal would have detrimental health impacts or the biodiversity of the area.

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

Campaigners have already begun legal efforts to overturn the decision