18 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson
Green Councillor Clare Sutton was quoted by the Dorset Echo: "For Portland Port to claim in its newsletter that it has our ‘community at heart’ is not just insensitive and ill-judged; it is downright insulting. Would that be the community which has come out in force to oppose the waste incinerator at every step of the way for over five years?"
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10 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson
The Dorset Echo covered an intervention by Green Councillor Belinda Bawden in support of a Labour councillor's complaint that an approved car park extension to a Dorset Council-owned site in Chickerell is set to be tarmac, rather than a semi-permeable surface.
3 April 2025 / 3 April 2025 by chrishenderson
Dorchester Town Council has approved a proposal by Green Councillor Poppy Farmer to increase the proportion of plant-based food provided at its receptions and civic events.
13 December 2024 / 22 December 2024 by chrishenderson
Councillors including Greens Clare Sutton and Claudia Webb have co-signed a letter by South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton to the CEO of Portland Port, calling for the controversial incinerator at the port site to be abandoned. The letter asks the Port to abandon "these harmful proposals" for "an outdated form of technology". They call for a "nationwide moratorium", banning any new waste incinerators. They also ask for a meeting about the issue with Port officials. The letter continues: “It has become clear that there is no business case, no community case, and no environmental case for a waste incinerator on Portland."
17 November 2024 / 22 December 2024 by chrishenderson
Green Councillors Clare Sutton (Rodwell & Wyke) and Jon Orrell (Melcombe Regis, and Mayor of Weymouth) were among the speakers at a Stop Portland Waste Incinerator protest in Weymouth on Saturday 16 November, attended by hundreds of concerned local citizens. The protest against the new Labour Government's decision to green-light the scheme was the lead item on Saturday night's BBC Spotlight.
25 September 2024 / 9 April 2025 by chrishenderson
Like many others, Dorset Greens have opposed the proposed new incinerator on Portland from the outset, and are diismayed that the Government gave it the green light in September. Councillor Clare Sutton has made a further submission to the Environment Agency and is liaising with Dorset Council, the new South Dorset MP, and other parties about possible next steps, which may include High Court review.
26 February 2024 / 22 December 2024 by chrishenderson
Green Councillor Clare Sutton (Rodwell & Wyke) secured Dorset Council’s commitment in 2021 to reinstating the Underbarn - a scenic path in Weymouth from Bincleaves Green to Castle Cove Beach. The Underbarn has been closed since 2001 owing to safety concerns after landslips. It has since fallen into an overgrown state of disrepair. Much of the Underbarn was cut through after the initial reopening agreement. Unfortunately progress then stalled for various reasons. However, landowners were informed last month that works would recommence and this has now started.
1 February 2024 / 22 December 2024 by chrishenderson
Bridport has approximately 500 listed buildings, most of which are ordinary residential houses, and many are small and at the cheaper end of the housing market. However, a constant issue raised by the residents of these houses is the difficulty in getting planning permission to install solar panels (even of rear elevations that can’t be seen from the road) and fit wooden double glazing. One solution being pursued by Green Party Councillor Kelvin Clayton is for Dorset Council to pass a Listed Building Consent Order, an order that allows people to install solar panels and double glazing on/in listed building without planning permission provided certain criteria are met.
30 January 2024 / 22 December 2024 by chrishenderson
Powerfuel appealed against Dorset Council’s decision to refuse permission for a new waste incinerator on Portland. The Public Inquiry was held 5-21 December. The large attendance over the two weeks reflected the pretty much unanimous rejection of the Incinerator by local people. Dorset Green Councillors Brian Heatley and Clare Sutton were among over 50 people who spoke at the Public Evidence day, all against the plant. Clare focussed on the impact of 80 (huge!) HGV journeys through Wyke every day, and on the potential harm to our tourist industry and local economy.
29 January 2024 / 22 December 2024 by chrishenderson
Rodwell & Wyke Greens Coordinator Val Graves writes: “Like many local people I swim in the sea throughout the year. As you may know, our sewerage network is a ‘combined system’, where both sewage and surface water flow into the same pipes. When that system becomes overloaded, for example when it rains heavily, water companies are allowed to discharge human sewage into the sea, at places like Sandsfoot and Castle Cove.
