Claims that a biomass boiler for Dorchester Town Council will add to the town's pollution have been dismissed as nonsense without any facts to back the allegation.

But the statement, from Mayor Richard Briggs, was branded "disgraceful" by former town councillor, Conservative Gerald Duke, at the end of an online town council meeting. His comment was caught as the online meeting closed down.

Mr Biggs had told Mr Duke, in response to his question about the proposed biomass boiler, that Dorset Council environment health team had raised no concerns and the boiler, which he said would only use appropriately locally supplied dried woodchip fuel and would be some way from High West and High East Street, which is designated an air quality management area because of the high levels of pollution, mainly caused by vehicles.

Mr Duke had asked for details of the town council's environmental assessment and risk assessment associated with installing the new boiler.

Cllr Biggs suggested at the end of his statement that Mr Duke might be better to spend his time questioning Dorset Council, controlled by the Conservative party, about why it had overseen a lack of progress in tackling fumes from cars and other vehicles in the two main streets.

The Mayor said that he was aware there was a small group of people, including Mr Duke, trying to make a controversy about the planned biomass boiler which would be capable of heating not only the Municipal Buildings, but could share energy with neighbouring buildings, including the adjacent church and the County Museum, if appropriate agreements could be reached.

The town council had chosen the form of heating because the existing boiler, which is gas-fired, needs replacing, and to use 'green' fuel would cut down on the council's carbon emissions in line with its climate pledges.

Cllr Biggs said that as a responsible public body the town council would comply with all the relevant legislation but he said that there was no requirement to carry out an environmental impact assessment and that the proposed boiler had passed the most stringent UK and European tests.

He said he found it disappointing that Mr Duke has related the project to the case of a London child whose death, a coroner found, had been related to air pollution.

"I think it does you no credit to use this sad event to try to, frankly, scare the people of Dorchester. I note when you were invited to offer any evidence in support of your assertion, you chose not to.

"The council will always take account of good evidence offered by others in its deliberations. You will understand, however, that we will place much greater reliance on the professional views of those who have been involved in the design of the project, including the Low Carbon Dorset team, our architects and mechanical and electrical engineers, Dorset Council environmental health teams and the soon to be appointed installer of the boiler," said Cllr Biggs.