Latest news with #DebbieTulett
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dorset incinerator opposers 'devastated' over High Court ruling
Campaigners have said they are "devastated" after losing a court case against the decision to build an incinerator near Dorset's Jurassic Coast World Heritage High Court has dismissed an appeal for a statutory review into Powerfuel Portland's £150m waste incinerator planning application, which was given the go-ahead by the government in September, despite initially being refused by Dorset decision comes after a two-day hearing in Stop Portland Waste Incinerator (SPWI) group said taking the matter to the Court of Appeal was its "one final chance". The group's request for a statutory review was upheld on the grounds the Secretary of State's decision "does not satisfy" Dorset Council's Waste Debbie Tulett, who heads up the campaign, described news of the latest decision as "devastating"."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," she said."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." Ms Tullett said she believed the majority of those who were opposed to the incinerator "would like us to fight to the bitter end".She said after "nearly six years of full-time fighting against the waste incinerator, I am not ready to throw in the towel yet".Olympic sailor and Portland resident Laura Baldwin, who is also campaigning against the plans, described the decision as "deeply upsetting"."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," she Olympic champion Ellie Aldridge said "no-one will want to train" at the National Sailing Academy if an incinerator was built nearby. 'Vital to port' The Environment Agency (EA) granted Powerfuel Portland an environmental permit for the incinerator in February after concluding it had met all of its necessary the time Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland called the announcement "extremely disappointing".He said the incinerator would be "throwing out nitrous dioxide, sulphur dioxide, arsenic, nickel, chromium" into the atmosphere, below the top of the island and opposite the beach, and harm the area's tourism Powerfuel Portland said the facility would have the capacity to process up to 202,000 tonnes of waste per year and create enough energy to power about 30,000 said hazardous or clinical waste would not be Port previously said the power plant was "vital to this port's future" by allowing it to offer shore power to docked cruise ships. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Date set for 'fight against unjust decision' over waste incinerator
Campaigners now know the date they will get a chance to try and overturn the decision to build a waste incinerator on Portland. An application was made to the High Court in December for a statutory review of the government's decision to grant planning permission, overruling Dorset Council's refusal of Powerfuel Portland's planning application at Portland Port. As reported, the controversial scheme was given the green light in September, despite fierce opposition from local residents and campaigners, including Olympic sailors who train at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Campaigners, who have been fundraising to support their legal challenge, have now received notification of the hearing dates for the claim against the government's decision. The statutory review will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on March 12 and can continue, if necessary, on March 13. The grounds of claim against the government include the decision not satisfying Dorset Council's spatial strategy and the 'proximity principle' from its Waste Plan and that it contains a number of factual errors relating to proposals for a waste management facility in Canford, which it relied on for comparison with Powerfuel's proposals. An artists impression of the waste incinerator at Portland Port (Image: Supplied) READ: Hundreds march against Portland incinerator in Weymouth Debbie Tulett who will be representing the Stop Portland Waste Incinerator campaign at the High Court said: 'We have news of our hearing dates for the statutory review against the government decision to overturn Dorset Council's unanimous planning refusal for a waste incinerator at Portland Port. "We will be in the Royal Courts of Justice on the 12th and if necessary also on the 13th March 2025 to fight the unjust government decision.' READ: Hopes Portland waste incinerator is scrapped amid rule changes The announcement comes just weeks after the government announced it would be introducing strict rules around building new waste incinerators. These rules have given campaigners new hope that Powerfuel would not be able to meet the requirements to get an environmental permit from the Environment Agency. However, the government department has confirmed the new rules do not impact the issuing of permits. Powerfuel has also stated that the new rules are for future planning permissions and 'does not apply' to the Portland project. It has also said it would meet the requirement that new facilities need to support the government's net zero objectives. Last week Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer assured residents that 'strict criteria' will be adhered to amid plans for the Portland waste incinerator. READ: Ellie Aldridge hits out at Portland waste incinerator plans Campaigner Giovanna Lewis said: 'Tens of thousands of local residents are determined to put a stop to this polluting, resource destroying project in order to protect our environment, the tourism industry, our quality of life and our health. If the outcome doesn't go our way at court, the campaign won't stop."
