Eco & Environment, Political | Posted on March 28th, 2025 | return to news
Dorset MP challenges Prime Minister over Canford waste incinerator
Vikki Slade, MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole, asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the proposed Canford Magna waste incinerator during PMQs.
The MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole, Vikki Slade, asked Keir Starmer about the proposals for a waste incinerator in Canford Magna during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday 26 May.
The controversial incinerator, which is opposed by residents of Canford Magna, Merley, Oakley and Bearwood is expected to burn 260,000 tons of waste a year to generate electricity. According to Slade’s party, the Liberal Democrats, that is more waste than the whole of Dorset produces.
Slade expressed her concern to the Prime Minister that as the county recycles more of its waste there will be less Dorset waste to be burnt and therefore, because of the need to “feed the monster”, Dorset will need to ship waste in from outside the area.
She asked: “Does the Prime Minister agree with me that we shouldn’t allow new plants where we already have sufficient capacity or where carbon capture is not going to be included?”
The Prime Minister has promised to look into the issue surrounding the Canford incinerator and provide a written response.
After PMQs, Slade said: “I have raised concerns that we should not be feeding the monster by which I mean that we should not be building energy from waste plants that rely on bringing waste from out of the area to ensure that the power keeps flowing.
“The assessment released in December showed that in the South-West we have around 95 per cent of the current need covered by the plants that are operational or already approved and so I do not believe we should continue to deliver them.
“If, however, a plant is to be built, it should have Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in place. I am also deeply concerned that the regulations allow plants to be CCS ready, rather than have CCS in place. By doing this, there is no incentive for the sector to get the technology working and this risks public and environmental health in the time taken between a plant becoming operational and CCS being active.
“When this plant comes before the planning committee, they will not be able to factor this in as they have to make their decision based purely on current planning factors. This is why I think the government should make the rules tighter, so that even if a plant gets planning it could not operate until CCS was in place.”
Local campaign group Magwatch is currently asking residents of BCP to sign a petition opposing the incinerator. The petition is live until 1 April. To sign the petition, visit https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=248&RPID=8153140&HPID=8153140&$LO$=1.
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