Plea to ‘selfish few’ to stop spoiling beach
A CARMARTHENSHIRE beauty spot continues to be blighted by problems of human waste, vandalism and unlawful overnight camping.
The National Trust Cymru said there has been an increase in these activities at the secluded Morfa Bychan beach near Pendine.
Along with Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart, they are urging people to visit the spot responsibly and not camp or park overnight.
The problems have been ongoing for several years.
Campers with portable angle grinders recently cut the lock on the service access gate to Morfa Bychan beach and set up camp on the landscape, leaving the beauty spot strewn with litter and waste.
The beach and surrounding area have also been subject to illegal felling, overnight parties, and footpath gates and posts have been chopped up and used for campfires.
Morfa Bychan is a place of historical and ecological significance, most of the landscape falls within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
National Trust Cymru rangers are having to divert their time away from carrying out critical conservation work to clean up rubbish, toilet waste and leftover barbecues from illegal campers and repairing damaged infrastructure.
The trust is working in partnership with Mr Hart, Dyfed-powys Police, Natural Resources Wales, Dwr Cymru, Carmarthenshire Council and Pendine Community Council to overcome these issues and ask the local community and other visitors to report any anti-social behaviour to the police.
Meg Anthony, National Trust Cymru’s general manager for Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, said: “It’s a real concern to see the misuse of Morfa Bychan increasing and people not visiting responsibly.
“The overnighters are frequently leaving human waste, used toilet tissue, barbecues and other litter across the beautiful countryside that they themselves have come to enjoy.
“We urge people to treat the countryside with respect for the sake of nature and other visitors.
“Please only stay overnight at authorised sites, take your rubbish home with you when you visit and do not go to the toilet where there are no facilities.
“Our rangers and volunteers visit Morfa Bychan regularly, but we would welcome any reports from the local community of anti-social activity that we can resolve with the help of the police.”
Mr Hart said: “Morfa Bychan is a very special, wild place which I’ve been visiting for decades.
“I’m delighted that more people know about it and are enjoying the beach but it is being spoiled by a selfish few.
“Trees have been cut down with chainsaws, quad bikes driven over the shingle bank and human waste left behind.
“Local residents regularly help to pile up the rubbish and the National Trust is very good about collecting it.
“I would urge people to come and enjoy the beach without leaving anything behind or doing any damage.”
There is limited parking above the beach, but access is most easily achieved on foot.
If there are no spaces on arrival, visitors are asked to try another nearby location to avoid blocking service or emergency access.