3 days Ago
Junior minister Rushanara Ali has today given the controversial plan the green light on behalf of the Secretary of State after a planning inspector recommended that an appeal be allowed and planning permission be granted. The original proposal - for the waste to energy plant at Portland Port - had been rejected by Dorset Council prompting an appeal - and a public inquiry. The minister said she agreed with the planning inspector that the incinerator would "not appear out of scale, or out of place.
" She also agreed that the proposed development would have "no injurious effect" on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, or be an "injurious presence" when seen from the Royal Navy Cemetery. It was further agreed that the proposal would not have "detrimental health impacts" and would not have a "detrimental impact to biodiversity on land and sea, or on water quality". The minister argued that the proposal would create jobs in the construction phase and "opportunities for local residents".
She further agreed that because the proposal could power cruise liners directly through the shore power element of the proposal, rather than relying on the grid, Portland would be at a "competitive advantage over other potential ports of call". She also said that the increase of HGV movements from the proposal "would not have any..
. Tom Lawrence.
