Local Authority works to shift the unsightly and large quarry rocks from the Children’s corner of North Shore is once again prompting further anger and concern.
Assembly Member for Aberconwy Janet Finch-Saunders who has campaigned relentlessly over the past four years to see the beach restored to its former glory said:
“It is now four years since our lovely beach was decimated by the dumping of over fifty thousand tons of quarry rock. Since that time and much to the disappointment of residents, businesses and visitors, it is a given that the majority of our beach are now impossible to access by our young and the disabled.
“Whilst I am pleased that work is ongoing to remedy the negative actions of our wave patterns that have seen these rocks moved to other parts of the beach, questions must be asked as to why taxpayers are still having to pay on an annual basis for these ongoing works to mitigate the damage caused by the dumping of the rocks.
“At the time of the grant application in 2013 for the contract works, it was identified at that there would not be any additional costings associated with these works on an ongoing basis. This has clearly not been the case and will do little to raise public confidence in the handling of this matter by the then-Plaid Cymru and Labour-led Conwy County Borough Council and Welsh Labour Government.
“It is exceptionally disappointing to learn that the costs of these annual costs amount to several thousands of pounds. Those of us who were opposed to the previous works undertaken at the time by the Plaid Cymru and Labour led Cabinet have continuously campaigned to see our former sandy beach restored, but clearly, the Welsh Government and previous administration of the local authority have made a bigger mess of our beach than we realised.
“It’s time for the Local Authority and the Welsh Government to end this nonsense, and restore confidence in the development of the beach going forwards. Those responsible for agreeing to these works initially should hold up their hands and admit that this was an error - so that we can all work together to restore our beach to its former sandy glory.”
Notes
The cost was discussed at the Llandudno Town Council Finance and General Purposes Committee on 8th June 2018, and is understood to be £6,500: http://www.llandudno.gov.uk/downloads/080618-agenda-finance-general-purposes.pdf
Works begin to remove some rocks from Llandudno's North Shore beach
Pressure on First Minister to address beach scandal
Written Assembly Question to Lesley Griffiths AM, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs:
Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the ongoing costs in relation to the quarry rock and stones on Llandudno’s North Shore beach, and advise as to whether the Welsh Government was led to believe that the original works would result in any ongoing costs at the time of the initial application for this?
Written question WAQ76411 to Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs
Tabled by Janet Finch-Saunders 24/04/2018
Will the Cabinet Secretary commit to working with Conwy County Borough Council to ensure that Llandudno North Shore is returned to a sandy beach, in a long-term sustainable and environmentally sound manner, and urgently address the build-up of debris and decaying sealife caught in the quarry rocks?
Answered by the Minister for Environment 02/05/2018
We are already working closely with Conwy County Borough Council to carry out preparatory work for a future scheme to reduce the risk of coastal flooding and erosion.
As I have set out in responses to previous questions on this matter, it is for the local authority to determine the most appropriate solution to deal with the current and future risk at Llandudno North Shore.