Plastic foam used to plug gaps in island cliff puts wildlife at risk, say environmentalists

‘Due to bad weather plastic is being washed directly into the sea. This is the seal haul-out zone. Crazy’

PLASTIC foam used to fill gaps in a cliff to stop it eroding is putting seals, dolphins, whales and rare birds at risk, environmental groups have said.

Hilbre Island, between England and Wales, is known by wildlife lovers as the perfect place to spot endangered species and a much-loved grey seal colony. However, visitors and those who volunteer to keep the area clean were shocked to find plastic foam strewn under the cliffs in easy reach of wildlife, and swept into the sea during the bad weather last weekend.

Emily Baxter, the senior marine conservation officer for the North West Wildlife Trust, told The Daily Telegraph: “We do get a lot of storms and bad weather... so that would be to be expected, and we certainly shouldn’t be doing anything that’s going to increase the plastic pollution in our seas.”

She said Wirral council should have used a material that would be safe for wildlife if broken by wind and sea.

Chris Cureton, who volunteers for British Divers Marine Life Rescue in the area, said: “Unbelievable! Due to bad weather plastic is being washed directly into sea! This is the seal haul-out zone! Crazy!” Meanwhile, Harrison Catherall, a biologist, wrote on Twitter: “Wirral Council ... filled an unstable cave on Hilbre Island with polyurethane foam. Before it had time to cure the tide came in and washed it all away. #Plastic everywhere!”

A council spokesman said: “The work that is taking place at Hilbre is essential as it will strengthen support for part of the cliff face where movement has been noted. This work is being carried out by contractors and is taking place in three distinct phases, with the first phase – to infill a cave beneath the cliff – beginning last week.

“Unfortunately, severe weather conditions over the weekend had caused damage to this initial work and resulted in some of the materials used being blown across the island.”