Media Release

JSea Defences at Risk from Sand Erosion

A Civil Engineer and Plaid Cymru activist has warned that many of South Wales's sea defences are at risk, if there is a link between sand dredging the loss of sand along the South Wales coast.

Ian Titherington, the Plaid Cymru - Party of Wales Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Swansea West has called on the National Assembly to take the coastal defence erosion factor into account, when deliberating whether or not to allow an increase in sand dredging.

Ian Titherington stated, "All the political parties are rightly concerned about the potential consequences of sand erosion to the tourist industry and ecosystem. However, the critical issue of the condition of coastal defences is not being talked about, yet should be a major concern to many coastal communities."

Coastal areas such as Llangennith and Jersey Marine are very vulnerable to sand erosion, due to their reliance on sand dunes as a coastal defence.

He said, "A steadily sloping sandy beach is a very effective form of coastal protection, but if significant sand loss takes place due to dredging, any dunes situated at the high water mark can be rapidly eroded. In a storm wave environment that the South Wales coast faces, such
vulnerable areas on our coastal defences are a major concern."

Ian Titherington welcomed the open debate on the sand dredging issue. The National Assembly will make a decision on whether or not to grant new sand dredging licenses, after a series of consultants reports have been published - relating to the potential link between sand dredging and sand losses off the South Wales coast.

DIWEDD/ENDS 25th May
2000
CONTACT

Ian Titherington tel. 07970 057821 / divot@lineone.net

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