I'm shocked (From Barry And District News)

I'm shocked

9:00am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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I REFER to the letter published in the Barry & District News on Thursday, June 25, concerning the condition of Whitmore Bay and specifically the littering of the sand with glass.

Firstly let me apologise to the author of the letter should her enjoyment of using the ‘Blue Flag’ status beach have been spoilt in any way during her visit. We are very proud of Whitmore Bay and feel that its expanse of sand is the envy of many other coastal resorts throughout the country.

To read that, on the occasion of her visit, the sand was completely covered with broken glass from the Promenade wall to the sea is something that shocked me and left me somewhat bemused.

Having just been awarded ‘Blue Flag’ status again for the 2009 bathing season where, in addition to excellent water quality, beach cleanliness is a critical criteria, it is difficult to grasp that the amount of glass reported could result in the independent judges reconsidering Whitmore Bay to be of the highest environmental standard that it must be to fly a blue flag.

As the sand at Whitmore Bay is also cleansed on a daily basis, primarily by mechanical sweeping that is specifically designed to pick up all litter including glass fragments, it is even more difficult to ‘take on board’ how it was littered with this much glass.

Subsequent inspections by our resort staff do not support that the beach was totally covered by glass. I totally support the letter writer’s call for beach users to tidy up after themselves and take their waste home or, at least, properly deposit it in the Council’s litter bins.

If possible, beach users should refrain from taking glass items onto the beach but if they do, then they must act with due diligence and take any glass, specifically broken glass with them. It is totally irresponsible for anyone to bury any items in the sand.

Clifford Parish Operational Manager (Waste Management and Cleansing) Vale Council

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