Portland Protest

The community across Weymouth and Portland gathered on Saturday (13 June) for a festival of protest about a proposed waste incinerator at Portland Port.

Unite branches in the area have supported the campaign to stop the development, which is also opposed by Dorset Council and the local MP, Lloyd Hatton.

The event, dubbed a “Protestival” by organisers, was held in the garden of The Little Ship and featured local muscians, speakers from the campaign group Stop Portland Incinerator Campaign (SPIC), stalls and activities.negative impact of incinerator

The day kicked off with some rousing songs from Island Voices and Harmonics Choir, followed by more live music and DJ’s before, after the children’s raffle, headliner Billy Bragg took to the stage.

The singer-songwriter and activist lives locally, and has been supporting the campaign since the incinerator was first proposed.

Earlier in the week he had encouraged people to “Come and show some solidarity with the people of Portland and Weymouth in their ongoing battle against the threat of forever chemicals falling on their streets and schools.”

Billy said that though the incinerator had been granted permission this wasn’t the end of the fight, and that continued opposition to the scheme was “really important”.

“As a community we are monitoring the air quality in Weymouth and Portland. If any laws are broken, we will hold them to account and take Powerfuel and the government to court. We are not lying down – they can play by our rules.”

Though the developers, Powerfuel Portland, say that the finished incinerator will result in around 35 new jobs, campaigners point to the thousands of people in the area, one of the most deprived in the South West, who rely on visitors for work in the tourist industry – and the impact the emissions and noise will have on the UNESCO recognised Jurrasic Coast.

Portland Dorset Council ward councillor Paul Kimber, is also Chair of Unite’s local Retired Members Branch and attended the protest. 

Paul said he was not only concerned about the impact that the finished incinerator will have on the environment and vital tourist and hospitality sectors in this part of Dorset, but also raised the issue of how the large number of lorry movements will affect the lives of local people.

Paul said “The Jurassic Coastline around Portland is unique, and must be protected. This includes green areas on the Verne Common. With a major increase in traffic movements and HGV traffic through our conservation and residential areas this would be a negative impact on our communities.

“I already have major concerns personally about the fumes and exhaust fumes.”

Unite Tolpuddle Branch Chair John Burbidge also attended the event and pointed out that the branch had written to Dorset Council to state it’s opposition to the scheme, while many in the local Unite Community Branch have also expressed concerns.

Dorset Trades Council has also expressed opposition 

On top of the impact on the tourist industry, environment and health of residents, athletes at the National Sailing Academy have raised concerns as they will be training just downwind of the completed incinerator and are worried about emissions from the 80m stack.

The council is fully opposed to the incinerator, and in a statement last month Dorste Council leader, Cllr Nick Ireland, said: “The council has consistently opposed the incinerator from the outset, including refusing the original planning application and continuing to raise serious concerns through environmental permitting processes.

That position has not changed.

“Dorset does not want or need this incinerator. The council believes it is in the wrong place, next to a World Heritage coastline, and does not align with Dorset’s waste strategy or wider environmental ambitions.

“The council also wants to be absolutely clear that Dorset Council is not in any discussions with Powerfuel, and there are no plans for Dorset’s waste to be sent to the Portland incinerator.”

Dorset Council said it continues to focus on reducing waste, increasing recycling and moving towards more sustainable solutions,and that the decision to allow the incinerator was taken by central government after overturning the council’s refusal.

Back at the Protestival the packed out crowd, which had now extended onto the shingle banks of Chesil Bank, were dancing, singing along and feeling re-energised by an afternoon of solidarity with like minded people from across their community.

Words and Photos by Keith Hatch