A Dorchester solicitor, who is raising concerns about plans for a biomass boiler in the Corn Exchange building has defended his views.

Gerald Duke says Mayor Richard Biggs gave him no opportunity to reply at a recent town council meeting – but refutes several of the points made by the town's first citizen.

Mr Duke said the mayor claimed the boiler was 'some way from the Air Quality Management Area'.

But he said the information found on the Dorset Council website clearly shows that the Corn Exchange is in the designated area.

Mr Duke also says that the mayor suggested he question Dorset Council on the lack of progress in tackling fumes from cars.

"The point of my question was the added pollution that this boiler will cause to an already polluted area. Indeed, when I was a town councillor I put forward proposals to mitigate the problem that the town council chose to reject."

Mr Duke agrees with the mayor that in law there is no legal need for an environmental impact assessment but he maintains his point that a risk assessment is needed and says it was clear none was undertaken.

"The town council has merely relied upon the word of suppliers and 'no comment' from responsible officers at Dorset Council and Low Carbon Dorset who likely as not had no knowledge of the siting of the boiler in the Air Quality Management area.

"The mayor was disappointed I had raised the issue of the coroner's report on the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah (child from London where a coroner said air pollution was a contributory factor in her death). This sad event should have been enough for the Town Council to at very least reassess their plans. Clearly they have chosen not to."

Mr Duke also denies the mayor's claim that he was offered the chance to provide evidence and chose not to.

"I was asked if I had evidence and replied that I had. At no time was I invited to offer evidence. All the mayor needs to do is refer to the DEFRA biomass review which can be found at https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/reports?report_id=935 ."

Mr Duke says that as a solicitor he has practiced in the field of environmental law for the past 20 years.

"As for the accusation of trying to make a controversy and scaremongering, nothing could be further from the truth. The council has failed to fully investigate the environmental issues surrounding the additional emissions that will add to the problems of an already polluted area and cause further health issues in the area surrounding the Corn Exchange."