Vandalism by local authorities

THE horrifying news that a “critically important” Ice Age Site of Scientific Interest has been “destroyed” beyond any possibility of recovery by council workers on an Anglesey beach is just the latest appalling example of environmental vandalism by Welsh local authorities.

I will not even attempt to list all the incidents in Wales, it would take far too long, but this latest outrage joins a very long list: the tarmacking of a beach in Porthcawl is just one past example, the demolition of the Grade 1 listed Brynmawr Rubber Factory in Blaenau Gwent to build a supermarket despite international protest and condemnation, not to mention the demolition of many more heritage buildings like the Darby Engine House and St James Church, not to mention dozens more structures in that particular borough, numerous historical piers, the demolition of part of Offa’s Dyke, giant alien wind farms erected on our best skylines, going back even further the destruction of our beautiful little railways, though I suppose we can blame Butcher Beeching for that particular one, the closure of pretty little excellent village schools which are replaced by soulless shed-like learning factories with leaking roofs and collapsing walls, historic pubs, hotels, and hospitals being pulled down on an almost daily basis... the list is endless!

Which brings me to the question... why does the Welsh taxpayer have to fund the massive expense of a Welsh Assembly Environment Minister and Ministry, and a Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, and a Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, when it is abundantly clear that none of these ministries are capable of doing their job of protecting the heritage of Wales?

Why do these people think tourists want to visit Wales?

It certainly isn’t the weather! They want to enjoy our heritage, our history, our landscape, our archaeology, what it is that makes us Welsh, not visit a shoddy concrete and corrugated metal jungle where every vestige of the past has disappeared or been wrecked!

Can we at least expect that in this case there will at the very least be a thorough investigation, prosecutions and sackings of those responsible for the latest atrocity, and the longerterm investigation and punishment of the previous historical offenders, or will the Minister(s) concerned resign in recognition that they are an irrelevant “toothless tiger” and an unnecessary drain on the Welsh taxpayer? Ian McNicholas Ebbw Vale