Gower SOS Offshore dredging in the Bristol Channel from sand banks has removed over 100 Million tons of sand since the 1950's. The levels of sand on beaches is dropping, the fish stocks are getting less.
Is there a connection?
Does it affect me?
Can I do something about it?
Contribute here . . . . . . . Thanks to the WAG - more Gower beaches are now targeted to be destroyed - like Porthcawl and Port Eynon. Please write to your WAG rep or leader.
Evening Post Article on National Trust Press Release
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From the South Wales Evening Post 10:30 - 13 February 2007 Rising sea levels could sweep away one of Swansea's priceless treasures.National Trust bosses fear a large stretch of the Welsh coastline could be severely affected by erosion and flooding over the next 100 years - including Gower's sand dunes.
Now with sea levels set to rise by up to a metre by 2100, and with climate change causing more severe storms, the trust forecasts three-quarters of the 143 miles of Welsh coast in its care could suffer erosion.
It has now produced a new report, Shifting Shores, calling on policy-makers to take urgent action over long-term planning to address the potentially massive impacts.
The report highlights issues to be addressed by the Assembly's plans for adapting to climate change and forthcoming legislation for the marine environment.
National Trust director for Wales Ivan Huws said: "The challenges facing the National Trust provide a snapshot of how sea level rise and climate change will affect the whole of Wales.
"We have started to prepare for and adapt to the changing nature of the coastline, something that all levels of Government and Government agencies in Wales should be focusing on now as part of a co-ordinated response to climate change."
Sites managed by the National Trust which could be affected include dune systems in Gower.
Beaches, including Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire, may disappear, while features like coastal footpaths will need to be moved inland.
Mr Huws added: "Over the next few decades, flooding and erosion caused by sea level rise and more frequent storms appear inevitable.
"No one in Wales is more than 50 miles from the shore, and tourism is particularly dependent on our wonderful coast."
Wales has been urged to take "urgent action" to prepare for the impact of coastal erosion and flooding by the National Trust - Is global warming causing the sand loss and damage? Over 100,000,000 Tons of sand has been locally removed from our natural coastal defences (sand banks) through dredging sand for building aggregate alone. Surely now is the time to see reason, its very clear. If global warming is going to increase coastal erosion - why are we still considering dredging away our coastal defences? The Welsh Assembly Government and Crown Estates have allowed the removal of our very own natural foundations and defences to concrete over our gardens. This must be stopped - its taxing our future.
COASTAL PATH PROBLEM COULD COST MILLIONS - Pelated Story in the South Wales Evening Post.
10:30 - 16 February 2007 Millions of pounds of Lottery money may have to be paid back if the Millennium Coastal Park keeps falling into the sea.Temporary diversions are already in place after a tourist hotspot - the cycle path near Burry Port - was destroyed by erosion.
If more goes, Carmarthenshire Council could have to pay back some of the £13.7 million it won in Lottery funding to create the attraction.
The authority has now set up a task group and given coast erosion top priority.
Group members estimate millions will have to be spent on the Loughor to Pendine shoreline.
They have appealed to Llanelli Rural Council to back a joint claim for European funding and hope Llanelli Town Council and Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council will also give support.
The task group's investigative report is scheduled to be published in April, and is expected to be critical of the MCP's design.
Neil Evans, a consultant within the county council chief executive's department, said: "The MCP was funded with £13.7 million of Lottery funding and, if we lose any of the coastline, the council is liable to pay some of that back."
The consultant said that, as well as the collapsed stretch of cycle path, recent concerns included industrial waste exposed at Pwll.
It had proved to be safe but regular tests and inspections were carried out.
He said essential sea defences near Loughor could cost up to £750,000.
County councillor Colin Evans, chairman of the environment scrutiny meeting, said: "It was a shock to the system that there would be a clawback clause if this was not remedied.
"There is a heavy responsibility on the task group to get this right.
"We are talking hundreds of thousands of people coming to the park each year. It is an asset and so is the whole coastline of Carmarthenshire."
The group has identified £1.3 billion of potential grant funding and intends making an application.
Rural councillor Giles Morgan said consultation was essential over the way forward, and suggested had it taken place at the design stage, the MCP would not be in the position it is in now.
Councillor Morgan, who represents Swiss Valley, said: "Where was the consultation on the cycle path? The local people knew it was too close to the coast.
"It's very frustrating to hear there could be funding clawbacks when it was the council that built the path.
"It is disturbing, and I hope the same mistakes don't happen again."
3 comments:
From the South Wales Evening Post
10:30 - 13 February 2007
Rising sea levels could sweep away one of Swansea's priceless treasures.National Trust bosses fear a large stretch of the Welsh coastline could be severely affected by erosion and flooding over the next 100 years - including Gower's sand dunes.
Now with sea levels set to rise by up to a metre by 2100, and with climate change causing more severe storms, the trust forecasts three-quarters of the 143 miles of Welsh coast in its care could suffer erosion.
It has now produced a new report, Shifting Shores, calling on policy-makers to take urgent action over long-term planning to address the potentially massive impacts.
The report highlights issues to be addressed by the Assembly's plans for adapting to climate change and forthcoming legislation for the marine environment.
National Trust director for Wales Ivan Huws said: "The challenges facing the National Trust provide a snapshot of how sea level rise and climate change will affect the whole of Wales.
"We have started to prepare for and adapt to the changing nature of the coastline, something that all levels of Government and Government agencies in Wales should be focusing on now as part of a co-ordinated response to climate change."
Sites managed by the National Trust which could be affected include dune systems in Gower.
Beaches, including Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire, may disappear, while features like coastal footpaths will need to be moved inland.
Mr Huws added: "Over the next few decades, flooding and erosion caused by sea level rise and more frequent storms appear inevitable.
"No one in Wales is more than 50 miles from the shore, and tourism is particularly dependent on our wonderful coast."
Wales has been urged to take "urgent action" to prepare for the impact of coastal erosion and flooding by the National Trust - Is global warming causing the sand loss and damage? Over 100,000,000 Tons of sand has been locally removed from our natural coastal defences (sand banks) through dredging sand for building aggregate alone. Surely now is the time to see reason, its very clear. If global warming is going to increase coastal erosion - why are we still considering dredging away our coastal defences? The Welsh Assembly Government and Crown Estates have allowed the removal of our very own natural foundations and defences to concrete over our gardens. This must be stopped - its taxing our future.
COASTAL PATH PROBLEM COULD COST MILLIONS - Pelated Story in the South Wales Evening Post.
10:30 - 16 February 2007
Millions of pounds of Lottery money may have to be paid back if the Millennium Coastal Park keeps falling into the sea.Temporary diversions are already in place after a tourist hotspot - the cycle path near Burry Port - was destroyed by erosion.
If more goes, Carmarthenshire Council could have to pay back some of the £13.7 million it won in Lottery funding to create the attraction.
The authority has now set up a task group and given coast erosion top priority.
Group members estimate millions will have to be spent on the Loughor to Pendine shoreline.
They have appealed to Llanelli Rural Council to back a joint claim for European funding and hope Llanelli Town Council and Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council will also give support.
The task group's investigative report is scheduled to be published in April, and is expected to be critical of the MCP's design.
Neil Evans, a consultant within the county council chief executive's department, said: "The MCP was funded with £13.7 million of Lottery funding and, if we lose any of the coastline, the council is liable to pay some of that back."
The consultant said that, as well as the collapsed stretch of cycle path, recent concerns included industrial waste exposed at Pwll.
It had proved to be safe but regular tests and inspections were carried out.
He said essential sea defences near Loughor could cost up to £750,000.
County councillor Colin Evans, chairman of the environment scrutiny meeting, said: "It was a shock to the system that there would be a clawback clause if this was not remedied.
"There is a heavy responsibility on the task group to get this right.
"We are talking hundreds of thousands of people coming to the park each year. It is an asset and so is the whole coastline of Carmarthenshire."
The group has identified £1.3 billion of potential grant funding and intends making an application.
Rural councillor Giles Morgan said consultation was essential over the way forward, and suggested had it taken place at the design stage, the MCP would not be in the position it is in now.
Councillor Morgan, who represents Swiss Valley, said: "Where was the consultation on the cycle path? The local people knew it was too close to the coast.
"It's very frustrating to hear there could be funding clawbacks when it was the council that built the path.
"It is disturbing, and I hope the same mistakes don't happen again."
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