I REFER to the letter Let's dig deep on the quarry issue' from Heather Woolley (Echo, May 27).

Oh Heather, the Cornishman! So you don't think there have been many holes which have been filled in? The whole of Portland has been filled in.

Portland Bill, where you live, is a filled in quarry, look around you. Do you think that Portland is naturally rocky?

I would like to answer your most important questions.

Q. Is it morally right to strip the coastline? A. The coastline will not be stripped, this is a gross exaggeration, it is only a couple of fields, and only a slice! Walkers will still be able to skip merrily along the coast and enjoy the views.

Q. Why would any self-respecting person want to quarry some fields? A. Because I personally love it, the stone company needs it and the whole world wants to buy it. This is how some of us make a living. Read some history books about Portland Stone.

Shall we announce to the world that Portland stone is finished because some grass and dirt will be dug up and some worms might get squashed?

The stone workers of the island will treat the worms with the utmost respect, I promise. We will stick 'em on a hook and cast them into the sea.

You should be thankful that you are living in the current era - 100 years ago, you would have been cast out to sea off Bill point!

I do like your pasties though, cheers for that. I for one, can't wait to hear the beautiful, morning song of the quarrymen's drills and to smell the 140 million year old dust as it fills my lungs. Mmmm. So I say, let's quarry and be merry!

Stonecarverman, Southwell, Portland.