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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Proper study now needed into dredging
October 1, 2007 12:00 AM
By Peter Black in Seaside News
By Peter Black in Seaside News
The decision by the Labour-Plaid Cymru Welsh Government to grant a licence to the Llanelli Sand Dredging Company to take 150,000 tonnes of sand a year, over 7 years, from the Helwick Bank off Gower has raised fundamental questions about their commitment to preserving our local beaches.
It is my opinion that before any further applications are determined we now need a properly-funded study of the mechanism that deposits sand on our beaches. This reflects my concern that the recent licence was granted despite the Government having no idea of its impact on local beaches.
The only good thing about this appalling decision is that it is at the lower end of what the company was demanding. However, the plain facts are that since dredging started, many beaches have changed in character owing to a loss of sand; particularly at Rest Bay, Port Eynon and Horton. In the circumstances the Minister should have resisted this application for further dredging as a precautionary measure.
I have opposed dredging from the Helwick and Nash banks since the 1980s, when it was first discussed in Swansea Council because nobody fully understands its impact. That is case today. This application should have been refused.
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