I can remember visiting Oxwich Beach in the Summer of 2006 and struck up a conversation with some holiday makers who had not been back to Gower for 10 years. They were amazed at how the beach landscape had changed. They said to me "Where has all the sand gone, this beach used to be covered in golden sand and now it is very pebbly and covered with stones?". Living locally and visiting the beach on an almost daily basis in the Summer I was stunned by their reaction and also concerned at how dramatic the change had been. Having read the comments on the Gower SOS site I felt compelled to write. Gower is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and that means all of it. We work to preserve the landscape, housing developments are strictly controlled, holiday lets are restricted and yet what controls are in place to protect our beaches? If we lose the beaches will we lose our ANOB status or do the beaches not count, will the dredging companies come and put the sand back?
More rigorous controls need to be implemented and robust research as to the impact of dredging on our beaches. Stop it before it is too late!
Jane Letheren
Jane Letheren
5 comments:
Over the years, I have noticed the gradual loss of sand from Gower beaches, particularly from Langland, Caswell and Oxwich Beaches. I find it difficult to be completely objective, but one specific area is the little coves at Caswell below the golf course
which were always sandy, but now, are full of Pebbles. This, sadly, is the general trend.
I am sure that continuing sand extraction will only exacerbate the problem. Gower will lose one of its main attractive facilities and will lead to the area no longer being a revenue earner for the local tourist industry and economy as a whole.
D F Letheren
The Bungalow
Felindre
Swansea
As an interim measure the licensing authority could stipulate that damage to beaches, tourism and the local economy (caused by dredging) should be compensated for by the dredging company.
This type of financial disincentive is not a long-term solution but it would ensure that individuals and companies involved in the destruction of our heritage will be held accountable in a language that business understands – the language of profit and loss.
More importantly it would demonstrate that the Welsh Assembly represents the interests of the people of Wales and not the interests of stateless and psychopathic corporate entities.
Having looked at your Web and noticed Gower SOS. I would like to comment that having first visited Oxwich Beach when my elder daughter attended Swansea University in the 1980's we spent a family holiday in Margaret's cottage.
We have been coming back to Oxwich almost every year since, especially since 1998 up to the present year and have noticed a significant erosion of sand. We could walk quite comfortably on sand in bare feet when purchasing goods from the kiosks. Now when coming off the beach you have to first negotiate the rocks that are now visible. The sand now is definitely not as plentiful as when we first arrived in the 1980's. I hope that someone in authority will act to stop the complete desecration of our beautiful coastline so future generations can enjoy and appreciation it's beauty.
Having said all that the area is still a beautiful place to visit and I hope to enjoy the beauty of the Gower for many years to come.
Good luck to you
Margaret Harris
Rugby
Warwickshire
Dear First Minister,
I am greatly concerned at the apparent erosion of sand in the above area.
It is essential that you instigate a full and thorough research programme to establish exactly what is happening as it appears that short term gain will be outweighed by a medium and long term negative effect upon the sands around the Gower peninsula and consequently tourism which as you well know is vital to the economy of the area.
I urge you to act quickly.
Yours sincerely,
John B. Loftus.
Several years ago we wanted to move to Port Eynon and so spent the whole year measuring the loss of sand to the dunes on the beach around the area of the boat slip in particular. Over a twelve month the dunes actually lost 20foot of sand,the new fences had to be put up 20foot back and the actual ice age peat was showing bare. The boat slip had to be rebuilt. With the loss of the sand dunes the sea will easily flood the village. We obviously did not move to Port Eynon.
The ice age peat beds are now showing in large chunks all over the beach along with the rocks where once not long ago were golden sands. Until a few years ago we would swim after work every night at Port Eynon but now we cannot for the rocks. The tourists every year are complaining that Gower advertises Golden Sands and ask where are they. Houses around Gower are being turned down by Insurance Companies and people are not being able to purchase them because of the risk of flooding. The sands will NEVER come back, we have to stop the dredging NOW.
R. A. Rees.
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