02/04/08

Neddyfields to be quarried...

John Leonard (a Portland resident and local new route activist) writes: "Stone Firms Ltd have informed Dorset County Council that it intends to start the first phase of quarrying of the coastal strip between Southwell and Portland Bill. This is the section of land between the Portland Bill road and the eastern cliff tops extending from Neddyfields to the old lower lighthouse. The cliffs here include popular bouldering, a wide range of sports climbs and the most important deep-water soloing area on Portland. Although the actual climbs themselves are unlikely to be affected (with the possible exception of the Neddyfields bouldering wall) the scale of the open cast quarrying will decimate this environmentally important site (SSSI with important geology, archaeology, flora and fauna). It will no longer be a pleasant play area for our outdoor activities whether we are climbers or one of the many other recreational users of this coast.

Stone Firms Ltd are able to do this under recently bought planning permissions granted in 1951 and what is particularly worrying is that they intend to start work on the first phase (see plans in the Southwell Action Teams web site: www.saveportlandcoastalstrip.org.uk/sign_epetition.html ) in May, in fact some site work has already begun in the section above the Neddyfields bouldering wall. The only powers able to prevent this are central government, withdrawing the 1951 permissions, hence the Southwell Action Team have set up an e-petition direct to the government on their site. Time is very much of the essence and the government are only likely to act if enough pressure is brought to bear.