RICHARD Denton-White really should get his facts right before pontificating about issues of which he has little knowledge (Only direct action will stop quarrying', Echo, May 12).

The original mineral consents were awarded in 1949 by the then Portland Urban District Council not Dorset County Council.

At the time the majority of the councillors had some connection to the stone industry and unlike councillors today, who start every meeting with declarations of interest, that generation failed to declare any such Interests.

The stone industry was the main employer on the Island for many years until the the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence arrived, creating alternative employment opportunities of a more guaranteed nature with better wages and pension schemes.

Stone Firms Ltd are a new company, even if the staff is the same as those employed by ARC the previous operator. They are not deaf to our concerns. ARC promised me they would only quarry the coastal strip as a very last resort.

The present owner was brought up on Portland so knows how important this area of coast is locally and internationally.

Unfortunately, large sums of money to compensate for giving up the mineral consents are the only way this will achieve stopping the destruction and that is what we are seeking to bring about.

Since 1986 repeated appeals have be made to have these consents reviewed in light of changing attitudes toward our environment.

Although this particular stretch of Heritage Coast is steeped in designations for the varied contents discovered since quarry ceased in the 1930s, these very important conservation measures are all superseded by the original mineral consents.

These were awarded after the last War to rebuild Britain's war damaged cities, especially London, and supply all the stone for war graves worldwide, plus numerous cenotaphs at home and abroad.

The major company operating on Portland then was Bath & Portland Stone, which owned large sections of land, plus leased the Crown Estate Lands to quarry.

Bath & Portland made one plannjing application for the majority of the quarry sites. These have now been split with the Crown Estate working their own lands through Albion Stone.

Stone Firms Ltd acquired the land purchased from Bath and Portland via Amey Roadstone Ltd (ARC). Throughout these changes the mineral planning consents remained unchanged and will do so until about 2040.

We do need support to make this issue wider known which is why so many local people have signed the online petition to the Prime Minister. Help Portland by adding your signature to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/portland Many people walk the coastal path from Southwell to the Portland Bill. They, I am sure, would not like to see this beautiful area turned into an active quarry.

I am not naive as suggested by Mr Denton-White, I am a realist who has been discussing ways to redress the situation for the past 20 years.

Portland is a small place with huge problems that only central government can assist overcome therefore we need to make our voice heard.

Coun Margaret Leicester Southwell