A Portland NOPE ( No Palm Oil Energy) sponsored public debate on the proposed biofuel plant at Portland Port at Easton Methodist Church Hall rejected the arguments of Richard Gudgeon, Chief Executive of W4B,that the plant was sourced sustainably and ‘no risk’ to peoples’ health on the island, at a public meeting on Wednesday 7th April. There was standing room only, as a platform made up of Richard Gudgeon, Robert Palgrave from Biofuel Watch, local resident Julie Samouelle and NOPE campaigner and Citizens’ Action Party leader Richard Denton-White put forward the ‘pro’ and ‘anti’ arguments.Head of Sixth at Thomas Hardye School Anthony Moore chaired the debate.
Local residents made it clear that they didn’t want the development to go ahead and Ros Kayes for the South Dorset Liberal Democrats and Brian Heatley for the South Dorset Green Party expressed their deep concerns about the project.
A straw poll at the end of the meeting, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a parish poll on the issue, being triggered after the elections on Thursday May 6th.
People were invited to the next Portland NOPE campaign meeting at the ‘Blue Fish’ at 7.30pm on Monday 19th April. They were also urged to participate in the forthcoming Weymouth May Day March and Demonstration , assembling at 10.30am at Brunswick Terrace and then proceeding along the seafront, leaving from the Sea Palace at 11am and then culminating at Hope Square, Brewers Quay for a Rally at around 12noon. It is hoped that people involved with transition town initiatives in Weymouth, Bridport and Dorchester will take part to show their solidarity with the Portland NOPE campaign. Family and friends are invited to join the demonstration on May 1st.
