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NORTH WALES BEACHES FILL WITH VISITORS... AND LITTER
HEARTBREAKING photos showing North Wales’ beautiful beaches dotted with litter have emerged online.
As temperatures soar, holiday makers have flocked to the region’s breathtaking beaches in a bid to make the most of the summer.
But the increase in footfall at the seaside has also meant a rise in the amount of rubbish being left behind.
Over the past few weeks, residents who have become sick of cleaning up after other inconsiderate litterbugs have rallied together online to shame those dumping their rubbish.
They have been sharing photos of their grim finds on Facebook – and they all show our shores left in a sorry and “sickening” state.
Residents have reported that they have had to clean up and dispose of a variety of items – everything from glass beer bottles and cigarette stubs to tents and air mattresses.
And they all say that those responsible are ruining the beauty spots for others.
Leah Moore, of Colwyn Bay, took her eight-year-old daughter Linzie to Colwyn Bay beach after school on Tuesday afternoon.
She was shocked when Linzie “sliced” her heel open on broken glass that had been buried in the sand.
Leah said: “It was only a small cut thankfully, but as it was a slice it bled quite a lot.
“It could have been much worse, though – the small amount of glass we collected was only a tiny amount of what’s been left on the beach.”
Meryl Heath, from Chester, who was visiting Anglesey, said: “It is the few ruining it for the many. I don’t get how people can leave a mess behind.
“I was on Lligwy beach, and a family of five sat about
20 yards away from me, the parents were probably about mid30s and their kids between three and 10 years old.
“They’d brought a picnic with them and then all five of them simply got up and walked off after, leaving all their rubbish behind.
“I called them back and said, ‘I think you’ve forgotten something’ but they simply laughed, shrugged and carried on walking.
“Needless to say, I collected it all and disposed of it sensibly, but what kind of example is that?”
Catherine Jones, of Anglesey, posted images of a shocking amount of litter left behind by wild campers who had discarded everything from tents and airbeds to coal from a burnt-out fire.
She described the scene as sickening and reported the incident to Anglesey Council.
She said: “This is our beautiful beach in an area of outstanding beauty. I feel sick to my stomach as to what else I found in the dunes.
“I have lived here for 18 years and I have collected bin bags full of their rubbish.”
Liz Wilshaw, from Anglesey, was left outraged after witnessing the “mess” left by a camper van at St Cwyfan’s Church – or “the church in the sea” as it is popularly known.
Liz added: “People should be ashamed of themselves, camper vans especially.
“I don’t understand tourists, why they think it’s acceptable to behave like this.”
Anyone found guilty of littering in any public space could face a fixed penalty of £100 or a fine of up of £2,500.
Each year the Marine Conservation Society completes an annual beach clean-up across the UK.
Last year, they reported that they picked up an average of 528 items every 100 metres they walked. They cleaned 42 Welsh beaches in total.
Unsurprisingly, plastic, glass and cigarette stubs were the top three most commonly found items.
Despite this, an Anglesey Council spokesperson said: “The beach cleaners, employed by our waste management and recycling contractor, have reported litter on par with previous years, with no significant increases.”
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We would urge anyone visiting Gwynedd’s beaches to treat them with respect and ensure that they dispose of any litter responsibly.
“Members of the public can report instances of littering in Gwynedd on the council website.”