Dredging Fear for Beaches

ENVIRONMENTAL concerns about dredging should be given “a fair hearing” before plans for dredging more sand in the Bristol Channel go ahead, Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks has said.

Environmental campaigners argue that dredging for sand from the seabed depletes beaches.

Vale of Glamorgan Council is to review a planning application for dredging and Barry Town Council has lodged an official “strong objection” to the scheme.

Mr Franks said: “It is true that dredging is important to supply sand for construction but the environmental effects could be severe.

“The Vale of Glamorgan’s coastline is a valuable tourist attraction that plays a much larger economic role than dredging does for the local community. We need assurances that further dredging in the Bristol Channel will not eat away at the popular beaches on the Vale coast.”

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