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| Southwell Action Team |
| Southwell Action Team (S.A.T.) was formed mid-2007. It was originally an impromptu group of people from Southwell concerned about further devastation of the Island due to the reawakened plans to quarry the Bill coastal strip. In mid-2008 we were advised by the CPRE to become more formal so we held a public meeting in the local church hall where a committee was duly elected. S.A.T. is not against all quarrying on Portland. However we are against further devastation of areas of natural beauty and rare plant and animal life. Firstly we think that such devastation is wrong, pure and simple. The Portland landscape is precious to many people; both Islanders and those who live hundreds, even thousands of miles away. Let’s keep it that way! Secondly, while quarrying has been of tremendous local importance, nowadays tourism (particularly ‘niche’ tourism such as sailing, windsurfing, climbing, bird-watching, etc) is becoming ever more economically important. The profile of the Royal Manor of Portland was initially raised by becoming part of the Jurassic Coast and now currently by the 2012 Olympic presence. Will tourists want to come to an industrial wasteland? Very probably not. Although S.A.T. is particularly concerned to stop the quarrying of the coastal strip from Southwell Village to Portland Bill (because this is a clear and present threat), we are equally concerned to stop environmental devastation elsewhere on the Island. S.A.T. was formed for a single purpose – to stop the environmental devastation due to this proposed quarrying. Once this issue is resolved, we as a group will consequently disband. S.A.T. is emphatically non-political. In principle, we will work with any other organisation, provided it also operates a) lawfully b) peacefully and c) non-politically. S.A.T. believes in democracy and the minimum of formality. S.A.T. membership is open to anyone. We equally welcome support from people who live in Southwell as well as all other areas on Portland. Key people live in Easton and in Fortuneswell. Many of the people who signed the online petition are climbers who live hundreds of miles away. The simple fact of the matter is this: most UK people now feel that government (of all political parties) has become increasingly out of touch with normal people. This needs to change. But it means that, in the meantime, if you want to protest then you have to muster your own support to such an extent that government is ‘shamed’ into acting. Sadly, if that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes. If you care about Portland, then please help us to stop it being devastated; or, if appropriate, mount your own campaign and we will support you if we can. This isn’t about egos; it doesn’t matter who stops the environmental devastation of Portland. All that matters is that such devastation is stopped. One of the most important things that we can leave future generations is a world of natural beauty that people cared enough to preserve. Thanks for reading this! Southwell Action Team (S.A.T.) |