STAND Up to Racism Dorset is calling on Dorset Council to take further action over the asylum seeker barge in Portland Harbour.

It says the barge continues to have negative impacts on the island and its residents and has seen one asylum seeker take his own life.

Campaigners ask Dorset Council to consider a range of options – including calling for an end to the use of the barge at Portland Port and to insist it be consulted if the original 18-month contract is to be renewed.

The barge was, controversially, put in place without the need for planning consent.

The call to councillors by the campaigners says they would also like to see some of the £1.75million funding from the Home Office used to benefit local residents as well as those living on the barge which would ‘help integration and break down barriers.”

Included is a suggestion of providing community or sports facilities which could be used by all and fully reopening Portland Hospital.

Said the campaigners in a statement to this Thursday evening’s council meeting: “A Community Liaison Coordinator has now been appointed by the Council and this has led to some increase in the support and activity being organised by the Council. However there are still huge gaps in the provision which Portland Global Friendship Group (PGFG an entirely voluntary group set up on the Island a year ago, without any funding support from the Council) has been trying to fill.”

The group says more also needs to be done to tackle incidents of racism, which some believe has increased, partially through the activities of some individuals and right-wing organisations: “There is still a huge amount of misinformation, and sometimes open hatred, shared about the Bibby residents both online and in the community.

"This includes the lies that Bibby residents have harassed local children (confirmed by the police not to be true), or that they have harassed, or even raped or murdered local women (again with absolutely no substance).

"Volunteers who support the refugees have been abused on-line and in person. This has led to the arrest of one Portland resident for harassment. There is now a situation where racism towards local people of colour has increased, and the refugees could be put at risk if tensions escalated.

“We believe this situation requires education and community integration, not increased security. Bibby residents have been to visit and speak in some local community, education, religious and workplace settings. Community events or activities which bring people together break down barriers and undercut stereotypes.”

Council rules allow those behind the plea to give their presentation in three minutes, followed by 15 minutes of council debate.