The campaigners say that Dorset already manages its waste efficiently, recycling 60 per cent. They maintain that to keep the proposed plant running, waste will be shipped in from around the UK and from overseas.

To continue their campaign, which may include taking it to a judicial review, more funds are needed.

If built, the waste incinerator will be sited in the middle of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, surrounded by both land and marine conservation sites and just 500 metres from residential properties on Portland.

With an 80-metre stack (Portland Bill lighthouse is 41 metres tall) and a plume up to 250m long, campaigners say it will be a blot on the landscape.

The applicant, Powerfuel, has submitted 18 new documents to Dorset Council’s planners in response to a second Regulation 25 notice. Comments and objections should be submitted by 7 March and the campaigners’ team of environmental lawyers and consultants will have to be instructed to review these documents.

Stop Portland Waste Incinerator coordinator, Paula Klaentschi said, “Looking ahead, in order to win this battle we still need more funds. If the Dorset planning officer is minded to approve it, we will call it in for the Planning Inspectorate to make the final decision. If the final decision is to approve, due to errors made in the handling of this application it will be taken to a judicial review, so ahead of us our legal costs will be in the region of £20,000

“We are sorry to have to ask again, but as the documents are highly technical, and the future holds more legal costs, we have no alternative but to ask you to help us win this battle.”

Powerfuel maintain that by using tried and tested technology, the proposed ERF will be capable of exporting around 15MW of partially renewable low carbon energy, enough to power around 30,000 homes.

They say there is currently a shortage of waste treatment facilities and capacity in the county and Dorset’s waste is exported out of the county by road to either be treated or sent to landfill. The proposed ERF would enable Dorset’s waste to be managed locally in a more sustainable way.

They also say on their website that the Portland ERF will be carbon neutral throughout its 30-year operating life. To read more visit: http://www.powerfuelportland.co.uk

Planning documents can be found on Dorset Council’s Minerals and Waste Planning website, planning application reference WP/20/00692/DCC.

For more information about the Stop Portland Waste Incinerator campaign visit: stopportlandwasteincinerator.co.uk, or the Stop Portland Waste Incinerator Facebook page, or join the FaceBook Group ‘Jurassic Coast Against Incineration’ for information and updates hot off the press.