Sailing academy at risk of closure if Olympic team leaves due to incinerator
The facility at Osprey Quay has said its financial viability could be jeopardised if the British Olympic Sailing Team leaves - which its athletes have threatened if the incinerator is built nearby at Portland Port.
The loss to the area would be about £5 million a year plus 50 jobs.
The warning comes as campaigners head to the High Court today for a legal challenge to the government's controversial decision to award Powerfuel Portland planning permission for its £100 million energy recovery facility.
Laura Baldwin competed in the 2004 Olympics as a sailor and has been a vocal campaigner against the waste incinerator (Image: Cristiano Magaglio) Protesters are heading up by coach for the hearing - which has come about after a local campaign raised funds to pay for the legal fees and mount a challenge.
The incinerator scheme has left the future of Olympic athletes using the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in doubt.
They are worried about air quality and the effect on their health, claiming the incinerator poses a "grave threat to the future of sailing in the UK".
The academy, which was built in 2005, has long been the home of the Olympic sailing team and took centre stage in the 2012 Games when it was the base for competitions and the medal ceremony.
READ: British Sailing to research health impact of Portland incinerator
The WPNSA has been the home to the British Olympic Sailing team since 2012 (Image: Newsquest)
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy statement in full (Image: WPNSA) But the academy said the departure of the Olympic sailing team - which it describes as a 'raison d'être for its existence' - would 'jeopardise its financial viability and have a detrimental effect on its image and credibility'.
A spokesperson added: "If the closure became reality, the loss to Weymouth and Portland would be in the order of £5 million per annum brought to the area by competitors and visitors, in an addition to the 50 direct and indirect jobs the academy supports."
It comes after the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the national governing body for all forms of recreational and competitive boating, called on Powerfuel Portland demanding clarity for its athletes over potential health implications.
The current British Olympic Sailing Team has been opposed to the waste incinerator on Portland due to health concerns (Image: Supplied)READ: Olympic sailors threaten to leave Portland over incinerator
In a letter the RYA said: "We are calling on you...to allay the fears of our athletes by providing greater clarity on the approach taken to environmental modelling and how this was applied to the human health data assessment.
"This reassurance is essential as we all want Portland to remain the home of British sailing.
"The RYA's heritage and connection with Portland is deeply rooted. We have close ties to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which is host to multiple significant international and national events annually, which play a substantial role in supporting Portland's tourist economy."
The design of the new training base at the WPNSA for British Olympic athletes (Image: RYA) The RYA previously revealed £9 million plans to build a new training base at the site for a 'world-class performance and innovation centre' alongside the existing sailing academy.
READ: Ellie Aldridge hits out at Portland waste incinerator plans
The letter continued: "The health and wellbeing of all participants in our sport, particularly our athletes, is a paramount concern to the RYA, and while we did not object to the planning application in 2020 on the grounds of navigational safety, there are now many questions being raised regarding potential impacts to human health from the incinerator, should it go ahead."
Planning permission and an environmental permit has been issued for the project with Powerfuel Portland planning on proceeding with the incinerator.
An artists impression of the planned waste incinerator on Portland Giles Frampton, director, Powerfuel Portland, said: 'Powerfuel responded to a letter from the RYA confirming that the Environment Agency (EA) had issued the project with a permit to operate. In its decision letter the EA explicitly confirms: 'the permit will ensure that a high level of protection is provided for the environment and human health.'
"The Environment Agency is the UK regulator for such matters and, following a three year process which included a focus on air quality, has concluded the Portland Energy Recovery Facility will not result in harmful health impacts.
"It is not clear what qualification or evidence the RYA has to disagree with the Environment Agency's conclusion."
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