Residents march to protest against incinerator plan
BBCResidents have marched in protest over a planned waste incinerator near Dorset's Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
It followed a meeting on Thursday at Portland Social Club, where more than 100 people from Weymouth and Portland vowed to continue fighting the proposal over air pollution and traffic concerns.
Powerfuel Portland has permission to build an energy recovery facility at Portland Port, burning refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from domestic, commercial and industrial non-hazardous waste.
An application by the company last year, seeking to vary its environmental permit to include dozens more waste types, has attracted hundreds of objections, including from Dorset Council.
"This incinerator isn't something that is simply happening," said Etienne Stott, Olympic gold medallist and Portland resident.
"This is something that is being done to us, against our will."
The Stop Portland Incinerator Campaign has pledged to do all it can to detract potential investors for the facility.
It was confirmed at the meeting on Thursday that a group would be set up to introduce an air quality monitoring system to get a baseline picture of air quality in the area.
A cultural event, featuring songs and poetry, was also discussed along with plans to test fish and shellfish caught in the area around the port for pollutants.
Speaking after the meeting, Jill Johnstone, from the Stop Portland Incinerator Campaign, said: "We knew tonight's meeting would be passionate and powerful and it has delivered.
"People from around here are not giving up, there is plenty of road left to run and there are lots of creative ways for people to express their determination that this incinerator never gets built."
