A worthy project for St Mary’s Island

THE Chronicle had a very informative article on the proposed development at St Mary’s Island and lighthouse, the site of specific scientific interest (SSSI) and other official classifications for birdlife and special protection.

In seeing this as another admirable effort by the council to enhance the coast, it is also evident that local interests feel some careful consideration of the significance of such a site must always take place.

As well as seeing displays of the intended work at local libraries, and previous mention in the press, the development has been on the agenda of a meeting I attended, and I have seen the literature issued by the St Mary’s Seal Watch group.

It is found all over the world that “unspoiled” beauty sites are quickly degraded by the footfall of more and more visitors. Wildlife as attractive as the seals and rarer seabirds, and hopefully offshore dolphins at times, are all subject to the activities of human populations.

Local fishermen may have some ‘reservations’ about the consumption of fish and other marine seafood, but surely the application for £2.1m is a very worthy intention.

I dare say a bit of ‘thought’ to the nature of glass screens at the viewing platform is capable of finding the right sort of glass, sufficiently high to conceal human visitors. The whole works has to withstand the heavy seas which already hit the area - and the anticipated ever higher and stronger waves, as climate change takes place.

The amount of waste plastic which humans keep putting into seas, some of the granular form, are the real danger to the local seals and marine life generally. I hope the project will go ahead as outlined.

AM JOHNSON, Cullercoats