1.Increased illness and mortality associated with increased pollution, even if the increased level is still within ‘prescribed limits’, especially:
a. NB exceptional – unique? – characteristics of chimney stack location in lee of hill and emissions on a level with and in very close proximity to residents: emissions would exit at 87.2 metres above sea level, Amelia Close on Portland is at 79 metres; The Grove is at about 107 metres; the Verne Citadel with HM Prison The Verne and its inmates and employees is at about 137 metres. When the wind is blowing from the north or east as it does about 35% of the time (see the Wind Rose giving Met Office data on wind direction and speed for the last 10 years, kindly supplied by Air Quality Consultants, on our Planning Links and Documents page) or when there is low-lying cloud cover over Portland, as happens frequently, the emissions with their pollutants would blow directly onto residents rather than being dispersed high into the air as is normally the case with a waste incinerator stack.
b. increase in incidence and severity of respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and COPD due to higher concentrations of pollutants in local air: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/air-pollution/take-action-on-toxic-air-pollution/our-research-into-the-effects-of-air-pollution
c. increase in heart disease due to higher concentrations of ultra fine particles in local air https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/14/uk-must-limit-killer-ultra-fine-air-pollutants?fbclid=IwAR0J8etQQsONQYfmA6YypEhjaig0igbOKuIppAXnRPg6f9JXDu7FDEA9kgw
d. increase in foetal abnormalities within a 10km radius of the site: “Small increased risks (2–7%) with proximity to the nearest MWI were observed for all congenital anomalies combined, congenital heart defects and genital anomalies, specifically hypospadias. …further monitoring of exposures and health outcomes near MWIs appears warranted” from article quoted by Public Health England to argue that waste incineration not harmful!
e. impairment in cognitive development in children due to higher UFP concentrations; see C1c above
f. local climatic conditions 1) frequent low-lying dense cloud lingering over Portland
g. local climatic conditions 2) strong winds and absence of land driving pollutants over to Weymouth and Preston etc
h. excessive proximity to densely populated areas especially at Castletown, Underhill, the Grove and Wyke, and to HM Prison The Verne and Foylebank Court Retirement Housing and Care
2. The source of the RDF is unknown – so the content of the RDF is unknown and therefore levels and content of pollution are unknown. PfP state (Supp St 8.6 – 8.9) that they would refuse any restriction on the geographical source of the RDF. This means it could come from anywhere in the world. This is an unacceptable risk; the precautionary principle should therefore be applied: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/precautionary_principle_decision_making_under_uncertainty_FB18_en.pdf (see also LP ENV9).
3. Scale and mass of proposed incinerator also would have significant adverse effect on AMENITY, especially of nearer residents, through excessive overshadowing (chimney stack and emissions plume) and overbearing impact (LP ENV16, PP Port/BE3)
4. Noise pollution impact damaging tranquillity of the area for both residents and visitors
5. The potential adverse effect on mental health of both perceived and actual risk
6. The potential adverse effects on physical and mental health of fear and intimidation due to the massive size and oppressive nature of the building itself, the noise and light and loss of social and landscape amenity
7. Potential for inadvertent pollution of tidal and bathing waters presents unacceptable risk given prevalence and importance of water sports and aquaculture in surrounding waters (LP ENV9); degrading of local air quality contravenes NPPF “Development should, wherever possible, help to improve local environmental conditions such as air and water quality” (NPPF 179e), and see DC CEE draft strategy aim to improve air quality locally
